HlaMin

Category: Vinaya

  • Vinaya — Monastic rules

    Vinaya — Monastic rules

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Training Rules

    • The Viniya (monastic rules of conduct) describes 227 rules.
    • The offenses range from irremediable, heavy, to light.

    4 Parajika (Irremediable) Offenses

    They are heavy offenses for which there is no remedy.

    • Sexual act
    • Stealing
    • Killing any human being
    • False statement about supernormal attainment

    The penalty is ex-communication from the Sangha of monks.

    13 Samghadiesa (Heavy) Offenses

    • Heavy offense that must be dealt by Sangha meetings
    • Must undergo probation and penance imposed by the Sangha to receive rehabilitation

    Light Offenses

    2 Indefinite rules

    • No fixed penalties for the transgressions
    • However, there are procedures by which the Sangha may assess appropriate punishment

    30 rules entailing expiation with forfeiture

    • forfeit something as a penalty

    92 rules entailing expiation [without forfeiture]

    4 rules entailing confession

    75 monastic rules of discipline

    • minor precepts regulating the conduct of the novice or the monk
    • mode of dress, deportment, eating, …

    7 dispute-settlements

    Posts

    • Abhidhamma အဘိဓမ္မာ
    • Buddhist Council သံဂါယနာ
    • Sutta သုတ္တန်
    • Tipitaka တိပိဋက
    • Vinaya ဝိနည်း
  • Buddhist Councils

    Buddhist Councils

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    According to the Theravada Buddhist tradition, there are six Buddhist Councils. The last two were held in Burma.

    Mandalay

    Ripley’s “Believe it or not” named U Khanti Kyauksar (inscriptions) of the Fifth Buddhist Council (Synod) held in Mandalay as the “Largest Book” in the world.

    The Council was held to celebrate the 2400th Year in Sasana Era.

    King Mindon was the Sponsor.

    Kaba Aye

    U Nu & Sir U Thwin were prime movers for the Sixth Buddhist Council, which was held to celebrate the 2500th Year in Sasana Era.

    Mahasi Sayadaw မဟာစည်ဆရာတော် acted as the Questioner.

    Mingun Sayadaw မင်းကွန်းတရာတော် acted as the Reciter & Responder.

    Mahasi & Mingun Sayadaws

    The Guinness Book of World Records listed Tipialkadara Sayadaw Ashin Vicittathara as having an outstanding memory — the best at that time [in 1954]. Sayadaw served as the Chief Reciter (a la Ashin Upali and Ashin Ananda at the First Buddhist Council) at the Sixth Buddhist Council held at KabaAye (World Peace) Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma from 1954 – 1956.

    Sayadaw could memorize, recall, and give exposition on 8027 pages of the Buddhist Scriptures known as Tipitaka [“Three Baskets”] :

    • Vinaya – Rules of monastic conduct
    • Sutta – Buddha’s discourses
    • Abhidhamma – Ultimate reality)

    He took the 2nd – 5th Tipitakadara examinations and passed with distinction in both oral and written parts. Sayadaw served as an examiner for the first Tipikadara examination. Sir U Thwin requested him to take the examination. The rest is history.