GLOSSARY
Austerity: Dhuta. Lit. “shaken off.” Presumably this means “shaking off defilement,” where the word “dhutaṅga” (austere practice) comes from. See Sanghadisesa BP #10: note 245.
Assassin: Sattha-hāraka. Lit. “knife-carrier.” See Parajika #3: Cultivation and BP #3, note 128.
Bhiksu/Bhiksus: Written with one “k”: male mendicant, translated from Sanskrit.
Bhiksuni/Bhiksunis: Written with one “k”: female mendicant, translated from Sanskrit.
Bhikkhu/Bhikkus: Written with two “k’s”: male mendicant, translated from Pali.
Bhikkhuni/Bhikkhunis: Written with two “k’s”: female mendicant, translated from Pali. See Sanskrit throughout Cultivation and see Pali throughout BP and BMC I&II
Buddha-fingers: 16.7 cm finger breadths. BMC I, Chapter 9.
Chabbagika [Pali] (see Sadvargika [Skrt] ): According to the Samantapasadika (Buddhagosa, trans. Sinhalese 5th c.), the Six monks and nuns were all of Savatthi and all originally acquainted. Finding it hard to obtain, entered the Order under the two chief disciples. They decided among themselves that it was unwise for them all to live in the same place, and they therefore divided into three groups… Each group had five hundred monks attached to it. (Ven. Pandita, 2017). See in Cultivation and see Pali throughout BP and BMC I&II
Corrupt, malicious, upset, angry, dissatisfied, indignant, of afflicted mind, callous. One is upset because of that anger, that malice, that dissatisfaction, and that indignation. See BP, Sanghadisesa #10: note 238.
Cullavagga: includes an elaboration of the Bhikkhus’ etiquette and duties, as well as the rules and procedures for addressing offenses that may be committed within the Sangha. Also included is the story of the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sangha, plus detailed accounts of the First and Second Councils. See Introduction. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/cv/index.html
Dhutaṅga: see Austerity.
Diminution: That is, shrinking or making smaller unwholesome states. See BP, op. cit.
Dukkata/Duskrta: See Wrongdoing.
Error: Vajjaṁ naṁ phuseyya. Lit. “An error touches him.” A decidedly unusual phrase; accordingly, the given translation is a somewhat free rendering. See BP, Note 247, op. cit. See Five Points.
Expiation/Forfeiture: Confess to a fellow bhikku, group of bhikkus, or community as a whole after forfeiting an item wrongly used or acquired. See N-P and NP Cultivation, #9 and BMC I, Chapter 7.
First degeneration: Refers to wearing lay clothes that are fringed or not red and yellow; wearing fur or white clothes. See The Novice Precepts: Commentary, 2003. See Vow 34.
Five Points: Devadatta’s points that he wished to have adopted by the Buddha. See Samghavasesa #10: Cultivation and Sanghadisesa #10: BP.
- Monks must be forest-dwellers for the duration of [their] lives; one who goes to [live in] a village makes an error.
- They must be reliant on alms rounds for the duration of [their] lives; one who accepts an invitation [meal] makes an error.
- They must use cast-off [robes] for the duration of [their] lives; one who accepts a robe from a householder makes an error.
- They must live at the root of a tree for the duration of [their] lives; one who goes to [live at a] covered [dwelling place] makes an error.
- They must not eat fish or meat for the duration of [their] lives; one who eats fish or meat makes an error.
Grahrakuta Rajagriha: Rajgir, the Vulture Peak (Pali: Gijjhakūṭa गिज्झकूट, Sanskrit: Gṛdhrakūṭa गृद्धकूट), also known as the Holy Eagle Peak or Gridhakūta (or Gādhrakūta), was the Buddha’s favorite retreat in Rajagaha (now Rajgir, or Rajagrih). It was the location for many of his discourses. Rajgir is located in Bihar, India. See Origin Stories MSV, Vows: 32 & 33. https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page.
Groundlessly: Not seen, not heard, not suspected. See Samghavasesa #8: Cultivation and Sanghadisesa #8: BP.
Jataruparajatasparsanam: Sanskrit, taking money personally. See N-P #9: Cultivation and BMC 1, Chapter 7.
Karman has the same root as karma or activity and literally means tasks or affairs to be carried out by monastics. These were divided into three types: individual karmans, one-to-one karmans, and sanghakarmans (community activities). For example, a Sanghakarman would be the correct procedure for Samghavasesa #12: Destroying the faith of laypeople. Sanghakarmans are the most extensive and contain detailed instructions for a wide variety of community-level activities, including decision-making, conflict resolution, and more. The Sanghakarmans are specifically a set of guidelines and procedures the community follows to make sure that harmony is maintained. Interestingly, the Buddha’s recommendations for community governance were democratic, with each fully ordained member of the sangha having equal status in making decisions. Introduction to Vinya: “Prescriptive Precepts.” See Cultivation 62-65. https://www.monasticinitiative.org/intro-to-vinaya.
Kathina: A ceremony held in the fourth month of the rainy season, in which a community of bhikkhus/bhikkunis receives a gift of cloth from the laypeople, bestows it to one of their members, then makes it into a robe before the following day. BMC 2, Chapter 17.
Khandhaka (“Divisions”; Sanskrit Vinaya-vastu, “Vinaya Subjects”), a series of 22 pieces (at least in the Pāli version) dealing with such matters as admission to the order; monastic ceremonies; rules governing food, clothing, lodging, and the like; and procedures for handling offenses and disputes. As in the Sutta-vibhaṅga, an account is given of the occasion when each regulation was formulated by the Buddha. The arrangement is chronological, and stories of major events are included, thus providing a picture of the evolving life of the early monastic community. See Introduction. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vinaya-Pitaka.
Kutagarasala: The Kutagarasala Vihara is the ancient monastery where Buddha most frequently stayed while visiting Vaishali in the state of Bihar. This historical site is located 3 kilometers from the relic stupa, and on its grounds can be found the Ananda Stupa, with an Asokan pillar in very good condition (perhaps the only complete Asokan pillar left standing), and an ancient pond. See Origin Stories MSV Vow: 5. https://www.tripuntold.com/india/bihar/vaishali/kutagarasala-vihara/
Mahavagga: The Mahavagga is compiled of several sutta-like texts, including an account of the period immediately following the Buddha’s Awakening, his first sermons to the group of five monks, and stories of how some of his great disciples joined the Sangha and themselves attained Awakening. Also included are the rules for ordination, for reciting the Patimokkha during uposatha days, and various procedures that monks are to perform during formal gatherings of the community. See Introduction. https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/mv/index.html”
Makatahrada: Literally, the monkey pool. See Parajika #3: Cultivation.
Mūla: Homage to Sarvāstivāda as the “root” of all Buddhist schools. See throughout research paper. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulasarvastivada.
Naihsargika-Prayascittika/Nissaggiya Pācittiya: Sanskrit/Pali. There are 30 rules regarding robes, alms bowls, food, medicine, and misuse of donations and inappropriate transactions of money or jewelry. See Cultivation, p. 77, and BMC 1, Chapter 7.
Parajika: A bhikku/bhikkuni who has surrendered to their mental defilements to such an extent that they defeat the purpose of becoming a mendicant. See Parajika #3: Cultivation, and Parajika: BMC1, Chapter 4. Also (with different diacritics), one of the four behaviors that automatically result in someone losing his or her status as a Buddhist monk or nun is sexual intercourse, theft, murder, and claims about having reached levels of pure mental concentration that have not been achieved. (https://www.budsas.org; www.wisdomlib.org). See Sanghadisesa #8 and note 239: BP.
Payattika/Pacittiya: to know, to be made known, to confess. 178 rules that require confession and repentance; 68 rules for bhiksunis are similar to 90 for the bhiksus. See Cultivation, p. 124, and BMC 1, Chapter 8.
Pedaliaceae: black-and-white sesame siftings to smooth the skin. See Payattika #151: Cultivation and BMC 1, Chapter 4.
Renunciation Vows: “Novice precepts” is fine in English; “ten training precepts of the novice” is more literal.
– Within Mūlasarvāstivāda, these are preparatory trainings distinct from the bhikṣu/bhikṣuṇī Prātimokṣa.
– Informal “vows” occur in modern usage, but “precepts” or “training rules” better reflect vinaya terminology. https://norbu-ai.org/en/norbu
Sadvargika: A group of 6 bhikkhu/bhikkhuni who had caused many of the incidents that stirred up the Buddha to formulate a training rule. See throughout the text Cultivation and BP.
Sam/Sg: Confession to the community followed by temporary isolation from the order for a certain period of time (expiation). See Samghavasesa: Cultivation, and BMC1, Chapter 5.
Sanghakarmans: see Karmans.
Shravasti: Savatthi is a city and district headquarters of the Shravasti district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In Pali and Buddhist literature, it is called Savatthi. It was the capital of the ancient Indian kingdom of Kosala and the place where the Buddha lived most after his enlightenment. Wikipedia.
Similar to a defeat: faults that resemble and perform the same function as the four defeats of a fully ordained monk. When a fully ordained monk incurs one of these defeats, his vows degenerate. The same result happens when a novice incurs such a fault. Geshe Tashi Tsering, The Novice Precepts, (April 2003) unpublished compilation.
Second degeneration: Acquiring material for robes but failing to make them. Geshe Tashi Tsering, The Novice Precepts, (April 2003) unpublished compilation. See Vow, 35
Sekiya: 75 training rules of conduct (etiquette). See BMC 1, Chapter 10.
Siksakarani: 100 training rules that should be learned. ‘Ought to learn’ is the least transgression (duskrta). See Cultivation, #33.
Stringbed: In this case, “stringbed” means a woven sleeping mat.
Ten reasons: See Cultivation, 452.
1. To keep the monastics together.
2. To let the monastics be joyful.
3. To let the monastics live in comfort.
4. To generate the faith of those who believe.
5. To elevate the belief of those who do not have faith.
6. To restrain those who are hard to restrain.
7. To let those who perceive repentance live in comfort again.
8. To eliminate the present distress of passions.
9. To prevent any further distress of passions.
10. To ensure that the true Dharma endures long in the world.
Third degeneration: If a Getsul/Getsulma belittles one’s preceptor/abbot and does not have consideration for them or does not follow their requests/advice, even though they can do so. Geshe Jampa Gyatso, The Novice Precepts, “Commentary on Novice Vows” (July 1998). See Vow: 36.
Vinayavastu (Skt.): Generally means a “section/book of discipline” within a Vinaya, a certain Vinaya corpus (notably the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya preserved in Tibetan and fragments in Sanskrit). It gathers materials that do not fit neatly into the main Prātimokṣa-derived sections: varied narratives, protocols, lists, and supplementary regulations, often with ritual and monastic-lifestyle details. In the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya (Tibetan canonical translation), the Vinaya is organized into multiple “vastu” (sections), including a Kṣudrakavastu alongside other vastus like the Pravrajyāvastu (on going forth), Upasampadāvastu (on full ordination), etc. The Kṣudrakavastu functions like a miscellany of disciplinary material and exempla. See Introduction. https//norbu-ai.org/en/norbu.
Wrongdoing: dukkata/duskrta: If there is regret, there is a light penalty; if not, a Sanghadisesa. See throughout Cultivation and BP.