TABLE OF MULASARVASTIVADA ENUMERATION OF DIFFERENCES & SIMILARITIES WITH PARALLEL VINAYAS
| MSV Renunciation Vows | Classification | Dharmaguptaka | Pali Canon |
| 1. Killing a human | Parajika | #3 | #3 |
| 2. Killing an animal | Pay/Pc | #46 | #61 |
| 3. Striking an animal to death | Pay/Pc | #19 | #20 |
| 4. Using something containing animal for self or other | Pay/Pc | #47 | #62 |
| 5. Sexual intercourse | Parajika | #1 | #1 |
| 6. Taking what is not given | Parajika | #2 | #2 |
| 7. Speaking falsely | Parajika | #4 | #4 |
| 8. Baseless defamation | Sam/Sg | #2 | #8 |
| 9. Implying a wrong doing | Sam/Sg | #3 | #9 |
| 10. Causing a schism in the Sangha | Sam/Sg | #10 | #10 |
| 11. Going along with that | Sam/Sg | #11 | #11 |
| 12. Destroying the faith of the lay Sangha | Sam/Sg | #12 | #13 |
| 13. Accusing a remainder | (See Note F) | ||
| 14. Alleging favoritism | Pay/Pc | #58 | #81 |
| 15. Knowingly telling a lie | Pay/Pc | #1 | #1 |
| 16. Rejecting advise from the Sangha | Pay/Pc | #12 | #13 |
| 17. Teaching for food | Pay/Pc | * | #24 |
| 18. Covering with rice | Sek/Sik | #33 | #36 |
| 19. Abuse | Pay/Pc | #2 | #2 |
| 20. Alcohol | Pay/Pc | #36 | #51 |
| 21. Ornaments | Pay/Pc | #157/177 | ** |
| 22. Garlands | Pay/Pc | ** | ** |
| 23. Makeup | Pay/Pc | #151/178 | ** |
| 24. Fragrance | Pay/Pc | #150 | ** |
| 25. Singing | Sam/Sg | *** | *** |
| 26. Dancing | Sam/Sg | “ | “ |
| 27. Music | Sam/Sg | “ | “ |
| 28. Sitting on high seat | Pay/Pc | #68 | #87 |
| 29. Sitting on high bed | Pay/Pc | “ | “ |
| 30. Sitting on expensive seat | Pay/Pc | #69 | #88 |
| 31. Sitting on expensive bed | Pay/Pc | “ | “ |
| 32. Eating Afternoon | Pay/Pc | #24 | #37 |
| 33. Gold and silver | N-P/NP | #9 | #18 |
| 34. Wearing/keeping signs of layperson | Pay/Pc | **** | **** |
| 35. Rejecting signs of one gone forth | N-P/NP | #2 | #2 |
| 36. Disrespecting the Abbot | Pay/Pc | see Note J | #54 |
1. * In the Sifen lü (四分律, Dharmaguptaka Vinaya) for parallel discipline framing for bhikunis/bhikṣuṇīs; the rule is not a standalone “Novice rule #17” but is treated alongside prohibitions on transactional preaching, chanting or recitation with the aim of food or goods. (Norbu Ai, 2025) Norbu says, “May not be completely accurate citing.”
2. ** Thānissaro (BMC2, 133,-134) comments in Chapter 10, that wearing or making of garlands.
3. is misbehavior, therefore a Dukkata. However, if making garlands into decorative items or crafts for families constitutes a Pacittiya.
4. *** Thānissaro, ((BMC1, 176-177) states, “for their inappropriate conduct,” also includes singing/dancing/music. Actually, renounciation vows 21-27 belongs to the 8 Precepts, however, the Vibhanga suggests if they were enacted among families, Buddha, enforced the penalty of Sanghdisesa instead of a Dukkata.
• • **** “Śrāmaṇeras, after going forth, put on lay attire and ornaments and went to public festivals and entertainments. People reviled them.” The Buddha said: ‘This is not fitting for those who have gone forth. One should not adopt lay attire and mingle at such gatherings.” Taisho Canon, trans. (Norbu Ai ,2025). Norbu says, “May not be complete accurate citing.” Mixing lay attire or ornaments with the robe is criticized in the Khandhaka (Cullavagga/Mahavagga) sections on robe-wearing); please check the exact Khandhaka passages. This matches the Mūlasarvāstivāda “no lay signs” rule in intent, though Theravāda doesn’t number it as “rule 34” for novices. (Norbu Ai, 2025). Norbu says, “I may be mistaken about exact Khandhaka references.”
