Study of Patimokkhasikkha

PAtimokkhasikkha means disciplinary of rules of the higher ordained monks. The term  has been used to mean as an observance before two hundred twenty seven (227) rules came into existence. Being refraining in pAtimokkha and restraining in precepts are given separately.

“Idha µahAnAma ariyasAvako sIlava hoti, pAtimokkhasamvara samvuto viharati AcAragocarasampanno anumattesu vajjesu bhayadassAvi, samAdAya sikkhati sikkhApadesu”

=here O µahAnAma! The noble disciple is virtuous, lives restrained and observed in pAtimokkha and being well behaved, seeing even small mistake, disciplines having observed in precepts.

ßikkhapadas are sometime promulgated pAtimokkhas are sometime recited together (sikkhApadaM paJJApeti, uddisati pAtimokkhaM). Later this usage changed and the term pAtimokkha was used to call precepts. There the pAtimokkha which recited came to be known as OvAdapAtimokkha that, which is promulgated, is called AnApAtimokkha.

The pAtimokkha which has two hundred twenty seven (227) rules as we see today seems to be developed gradually. There is one evidence in the åGguttaranikAya which says that there were only one hundred five (150) precepts [∂iyaDDha sikhApadaM sataM (sAdhika)] sikkhApadasutta of AN. The last seven in the two hundred seven (227) are legal points that can not be strictly called has precepts. Therefore the real number of precepts is two hundred twenty (220). Apart from the the five books of VinayapiTaka there is book named pAtimokkha. It can be a book too let origin. It is a collection of al the significant rules into a small book for sake of ready reference. The total order of precept is seen in the pArivArapAli. According to difference kinds of precepts are as follows.