Xct Mu Bi Sk 1Evenly All Around

Evenly All Around — Parimaṇḍala

Number: Xct Mu Bi Sk 1 | Tradition: Sectarian Buddhist Scriptures · Comparative | Collection: Comparative Vinaya — Tibetan

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Source Status

This entry belongs to the Comparative Vinaya — Tibetan collection within the Sectarian Buddhist Scriptures materials. It is recorded under the number Xct Mu Bi Sk 1, with the Vietnamese title Đều khắp xung quanh, the English title Evenly All Around, and the original Sanskrit or Pāli title Parimaṇḍala. The complete original text of this entry has not yet been directly collated in the process of preparing this explanation; the explanation below is based entirely on the descriptive information provided and on foundational knowledge of the structure of the Vinaya in sectarian Buddhist traditions. Readers should note that this is not a translation of the original scripture, but a general explanation intended to help orient study and practice.

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Background

The Comparative Vinaya — Tibetan collection is a distinctive work in systematizing and comparing disciplinary provisions among different Buddhist schools through the Tibetan language. This type of comparative material was often compiled or translated in Buddhist scholastic settings in order to clarify similarities and differences among Vinaya systems, thereby helping scholars and practitioners better understand the origin and meaning of each disciplinary provision.

The designation “Mu Bi Sk 1” suggests that this is the first entry (Sk 1) in a classified group of rules connected with the Mūlasarvāstivāda tradition or a related school, belonging to the category of training rules for bhikkhus (Bi — Bhikkhu). The appearance of the term Parimaṇḍala in the first position of this group of training rules is significant, because Parimaṇḍala is often connected with one of the basic regulations concerning the way an ordained person wears the robe.

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Content That Can Be Determined from the Descriptive Information

The term Parimaṇḍala in the Vinaya context means “evenly all around” or “round and even on every side,” and is often used to describe the manner in which an ordained person wears the robe so that it covers evenly, neatly, not slanting to one side, and not exposing parts of the body inconsistent with the deportment of a practitioner. This is one of the aesthetic and ethical criteria valued in the rules of deportment for bhikkhus.

In the context of comparative sectarian Vinaya, the placement of Parimaṇḍala as Sk 1, that is, the first training rule in a given group, shows that it serves as an opening foundation for a series of regulations related to bodily deportment or the use of robes in the daily life of an ordained person. Its placement as number 1 emphasizes the primary importance of orderliness, neatness, and dignity in the outward expression of a practitioner.

Because this is a comparative Vinaya collection with Tibetan as the intermediary language, the content of this entry most likely reflects the way the Tibetan tradition recorded and compared the provision Parimaṇḍala with corresponding versions in other Vinayas, such as Pāli or Sanskrit versions from different schools.

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Meaning for Practice

The training rule Parimaṇḍala may appear to be a formal regulation about clothing, but in Buddhist philosophy it carries a deeper meaning concerning comprehensive and balanced practice. When an ordained person wears the robe “evenly all around,” that act expresses attentiveness, mindfulness, and awareness of deportment, qualities inseparable from spiritual cultivation.

In the Buddhist tradition, bodily deportment is not merely an outer form but also reflects the inner state. A practitioner whose mind is pure, settled, and mindful will naturally manifest this through the way he walks, stands, sits, and wears the robe. Conversely, practicing outward deportment attentively also supports the gathering and calming of the mind.

For students of Buddhism, whether ordained or lay, the principle of Parimaṇḍala may be understood more broadly as a reminder of balance and wholeness in every aspect of the life of practice: not leaning to one side, neither careless nor rigid, but always maintaining steadiness, balance, and awareness in every gesture and action.

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Comparative Note

Because the full source text has not yet been directly collated, this explanation remains at a general level based on the descriptive information and the foundational meaning of the term Parimaṇḍala in the Buddhist sectarian Vinaya tradition. Those who wish to study this training rule more deeply should consult the original Vinaya texts in Tibetan or the corresponding Sanskrit versions, as well as specialized scholarly works on the comparison of Vinaya systems among Buddhist schools, in order to obtain the most accurate and complete understanding of the content, scope of application, and circumstances related to this important training rule.