Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Sk 14Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY: NĀTYAVAKṚṢṬAṀ PRĀVARIṢYĀMA

Background

This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, one of the three principal collections of Theravāda Buddhism. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a compilation of rigid prohibitions and rules, but rather a comprehensive body of teachings on ethical spirit and the governance of the monastic community. Buddhist monastic law arose from specific situations encountered by the disciples, and the Blessed One taught appropriate modes of conduct to nurture understanding of the Dharma and harmony within the order.

The Saṁghādisesa section (僧伽婆尸沙) of the Pāli Vinaya addresses grave offenses requiring public acknowledgment before the assembly and a process of rectification. The scripture Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma records specific instructions on how monks carry out these important procedures, particularly in relation to the Pavāraṇā—the ceremony marking the conclusion of the rains retreat, during which the occasion is taken to offer apology for any shortcomings in one's practice.

Principal Content

This scripture addresses the rules and procedures pertaining to monks expressing their resolve in practice and offering apologies before the assembly during the vassa rains retreat. The phrase "Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma," though in a combined Sanskrit/Pāli form, may be rendered in meaning as "We shall conduct the ceremony concluding the rains retreat with solemnity."

The Vinaya section details how the assembly of the Sangha is to be organized, wherein monks gather in order to:

1) Publicly offer apology for conduct that has been careless or lacking in diligence in their practice
2) Request fellow monastics to point out matters requiring correction
3) Restore unity and harmony within the community

The detailed rules provide guidance on who should speak first, who should remain silent, how all members are to participate, and the conditions under which an assembly is to be considered valid.