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PARIMAṆḌALA SCRIPTURE (Evenly All Around)

Context

The Parimaṇḍala scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon, where the rules of life for the Buddhist Sangha are recorded. Unlike the discourses in the Sutta Piṭaka, the Vinaya Piṭaka focuses on discipline (Vinaya) and the principles for governing the monastic community. The Parimaṇḍala scripture sets forth a basic principle of fairness and consistency in applying the law to all members of the Sangha, without distinction of status or ethnicity.

The Pāli word Parimaṇḍala means “rounded all around” or “evenly complete,” implying fairness without worn corners and without exceptions. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this principle is the foundation of a community of practice governed according to objective and impartial criteria.

Main Content

The Parimaṇḍala scripture emphasizes that the rules of the Sangha must be applied fully and consistently to all members, from the most senior ascetics to newly ordained monastics. There is no special priority, no exception based on reputation or capacity in practice.

This principle reflects one of the core principles of early Buddhism: equality under spiritual law. Although the Buddha had disciples who were more outstanding than others, before the law of the Sangha everyone was equal. If someone violated it, whether a senior ascetic or an arhat, that person still had to undergo the same forms of correction.

The scripture also implies that this fairness is an indispensable condition for the Sangha to function stably and harmoniously. When the law is applied unevenly and inconsistently, conflict, dissatisfaction, and disorder arise in the monastic community.

Practical Meaning

From the perspective of practice, the Parimaṇḍala principle teaches us that spiritual discipline is not a tool for favoritism or for creating an oppressive hierarchy.