San Lo Bi Vb Sk 1Evenly All Around
Pāli / Sanskrit:Parimaṇḍala
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Sutta Parimaṇḍala (Parimaṇḍala Vatthu) — Commentary
Background
The Sutta Parimaṇḍala belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically to the Saṅghadisesa section — the serious offenses of monks and nuns. This is the portion of the Vinaya that records detailed regulations concerning the reproof and correction of transgressions within the monastic community, reflecting the spirit of internal governance in the early Buddhist Sangha.
The original Pāli title "Parimaṇḍala" means "complete circle" or "evenly all around in the four directions," signifying uniformity and balance in the handling of disciplinary matters. This text is not a discourse delivered by the Buddha, but rather a set of regulations developed by the Sangha to uphold common principles of practice and ethics.
The Vinaya Piṭaka was transmitted from the time when the Buddha was still present in the world, and was subsequently compiled by learned elder monks and successively confirmed by the great Buddhist Councils. The regulations of the Vinaya are not intended as punishment, but for education, cultivation, and the protection of the monastic community.
Main Content
Although the detailed content of the Parimaṇḍala Sutta has not yet been rendered in complete translation, we may understand that this text concerns rules for handling disciplinary matters within the monastic community in a manner that is "evenly all around" — that is, applied fairly and consistently to all persons without discrimination.
Within the context of the Saṅghadisesa, offenses are evaluated not only on the basis of the individual act itself, but on its social impact within the community. "Parimaṇḍala" (comprehensive, evenly all around) reflects the principle that the entire community must participate in the process of recognizing and rectifying transgressions. This is distinct from the simpler offenses (Pācittiya), which may be confessed individually, and from the most serious offenses (Pārājika), which result in expulsion from the Sangha.
The Principle of "Evenly in All Directions"
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