Lzh Mg Bi Vb Sk 1–77Rules for Training
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sekhiya
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Commentary on the Sekhiya (Rules for Training)
Background
The Sekhiya belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Pāli Canon, the formal code of discipline of Theravāda Buddhism. It is a collection of seventy-seven rules for training (sekhiya sikkhāpada) promulgated by the Buddha to regulate the conduct of both monks and nuns of the Sangha.
The Sekhiya (those who are in training) does not consist of rules of a gravely punitive nature, such as rules of forfeiture (nissaggiya) or rules of defeat (pārājika), but rather guidelines on how to manifest the deportment of a renunciant (samaṇakāra) in the conduct of daily life. These rules reflect the spirit of the Buddha-Dharma: spiritual cultivation is not merely a matter of avoiding transgression, but of perfecting virtue and nurturing a noble character.
Principal Contents
The seventy-seven Sekhiya rules encompass every aspect of the monastic life, from eating, wearing the robe, and walking, to speaking and social interaction. They are grouped into several broad categories:
Regarding eating: A monastic should eat with dignity — not chewing noisily, not blowing on food, not dropping morsels of rice. These are not meaningless rules; they are expressions of respect toward food and of the cultivation of mental composure.
Regarding the robe: The outer robe must be worn in a proper manner, covering the body fittingly, reflecting the dignity and humility of one who has gone forth into homelessness.
Regarding movement: Monastics should not run, leap, or move in a disorderly or agitated fashion. Every step is regarded as an opportunity to practice mindfulness and clear comprehension.
Regarding speech and interaction: One should not speak loudly, laugh boisterously, or point at others. These restraints are intended to preserve the peace of the Sangha and to develop wakefulness of mind.
It is worth noting that these rules do not arise from any external imposition; rather, they were promulgated by the Buddha for practical purposes: to train monastics in self-discipline, to cultivate recollection and presence of mind, and to foster spiritual maturity.
Practical Significance
The Sekhiya rules are not arbitrary constraints but profound instruments of character development.
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