Differences & Similarities

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 wrongdoing	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 advice 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

* In the Sifen lü (四分律, Dharmaguptaka Vinaya) for parallel discipline framing for 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).

**Thānissaro (BMC 2, 133–134) comments in Chapter 10 that wearing or making garlands is misbehavior, therefore a dukkaṭa. However, making garlands into decorative items or crafts for families constitutes a pācittiya.

*** Thānissaro (BMC 1, 176–177) states “for their inappropriate conduct” also includes singing, dancing, and music. Actually, renunciation vows 21–27 belong to the 8 Precepts; however, the Vibhaṅga suggests that, if they were enacted within families, the Buddha enforced the penalty of saṅghādisesa rather than a dukkaṭa.

**** According to Norbu (2026), the Dharmaguptaka text Shaomi Lüji (The Śrāmaṇera Precepts, Taishō Tripiṭaka Vol. 22) expands Precept #6 into a total ban on secular clothing, instructing novices to abandon civilian garments, silks, caps, and jewelry. Likewise, the Theravāda Khandhaka—specifically Mahāvagga Chapter 8 and Cullavagga Chapter 5—forbids monastics from fashioning their robes into ostentatious, lay, or theatrical styles. In parallel with the Mūlasarvāstivāda tradition, this framework reinforces the monastic robe as a symbol of collective renunciation and mindfulness (Sujato, Mahāvagga 8.29). Although specific translation citations require careful verification, the cross-tradition prohibition against lay attire is well established.