(This story is the first of a two-part series on three newly published chapters on the “three rites,” beginning with The Chapter on the Restoration Rite.)
Have you ever wondered how the rituals and rules that govern the lives of monks and nuns got started? Or how wandering monks came to establish monasteries so they could live and meditate together in seclusion from the outside world?
The beginnings of three essential monastic rituals are revealed in exquisite detail in three chapters of The Chapters on Monastic Discipline: The Chapter on the Restoration Rite (Toh 1-2), The Chapter on Lifting Restrictions (Toh 1-3), and The Chapter on the Rains (Toh 1-4), published by 84000 in December 2024. Overall, The Chapters on Monastic Discipline narrates the origins and development of the Buddhist sangha, employing this history as a frame for recounting the Buddha’s rulings on the communal life of monks and nuns.
The great narrative begins, naturally enough, with the birth of the Buddha and the gradual growth of his saṅgha of monks, as told in The Chapter on Going Forth (Toh 1-1), published by 84000 in 2018. It then continues with the three chapters featured here, each focused on a foundational rite of monastic communal life, explains Dr. Robert (Bob) Miller, a research editor at 84000 who has translated vinaya texts for 84000 since 2011.
“These three chapters describe the three rites that a monastic community must observe to affirm its purity—purity in the sense that they are living according to the monastic rules established by the Buddha,” says Bob, who studies the texts as a former monastic and present-day scholar. “These same requirements continue to guide the way monastic life is structured today, although generally monasteries embed the rituals described here in more or less elaborate liturgies of their own.”
The chapters are filled with many colorful and amusing stories of early Buddhist monks, who lived as mendicants, wandering the countryside as they learned and practiced the Buddha’s teachings under the guidance of a preceptor or instructor.
The Chapter on the Restoration Rite explains how the ritual of reciting The Prātimokṣa Sūtra began. A group of lay Buddhists rise early on the lunar holiday known as upavasatha and visit a grove where a group of non-Buddhist ascetics practice sitting meditation before reciting a liturgy. The lay Buddhists are so impressed, they ask the Buddha to institute a similar tradition for Buddhists. Based on this request, the Buddha decrees that monks should gather on new and full moon days, known as poṣadha or “restoration days,” to practice meditation and recite the Prātimokṣa Sūtra to affirm and amend their monastic training.
The Chapter on the Restoration Rite continues with the section, “Meditation Residence,” where the trials and tribulations of monks trying to meditate leads the Buddha to allow the first meditation settlements. These started as clusters of huts but grew to later become large, enclosed settlements with multistoried buildings and shrine rooms.
Before the meditation residences were built, monks did their best to follow the Buddha’s instructions on practicing meditation, or yoga as it was called, wherever they were. They would meditate while walking into a village to beg alms but become so absorbed in meditation that they collided with elephants, horses, and infantrymen, according to the text. The monks trip and fall, bringing jeers and taunts from “those who lack faith” (meaning religious people who were not Buddhists). After learning of these incidents the Buddha instructs them not to practice yoga while “on their rounds.” [1.11]
The monks then try to practice while sitting at the gatehouse, where any passerby might see them. But the monks fall asleep there, prompting brahmanical worshippers to taunt them again, saying, “Hey you! Is it your practice to sleep in public?” [1.12].
The monks appeal again to the Buddha who instructs them to no longer practice at the gatehouse. After trying to practice on the terrace and inside the noisy residence hall with no success, they venture into the forest but there encounter bandits, lions, tigers, and other obstacles.
So the Buddha instructs them to build small screens to hide themselves from view. When they did so, using lattice, boughs, and branches, those who passed by could still see the tops of their heads, and the monks were jeered at again. The onlookers likened the meditating monks to fruits and vegetables, calling out, “What is this? A garden for lemons and pomegranates?” [1.21]
Eventually the monks are given consent by the Buddha to build meditation settlements.
In a series of verses, the Buddha describes how to build the structures, where to put the doors and windows, how to place candle lamps for lighting, and gives other detailed instructions.
in clusters of various sizes.[n.97]
With their focus on social practices and material culture, The Chapters on Monastic Discipline also provide valuable insight into ancient Indian life, providing an important resource for scholars of that period of South Asian civilization. “These stories give us insight into communities and culture, offering a detailed recollection,” Bob says. “While not considered ‘history,’ these texts help us understand the rise of the Buddhist sangha, along with the caste system, trade, merchants, and other aspects of life in ancient India.”
Our next story in this series will delve into The Chapter on Lifting Restrictions and The Chapter on the Rains. Stay tuned!
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Story by Carol Tucker, 84000 communications editor