Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaa-sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaa-sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaa-sambuddhassa

Dear Yong Peng,
Allow me to comment on the above subject.
First one must know that before any Vinaya rules being so called enact,
the root comes from the laypeople practices eg. From wholesome sila,
coupled with panna and samadhi which have wholesome kusala citta.
Which the Blessed One sees fit for practices.
Vinaya rules is so called a lock rules of conduct for a person going
forth for holy life.
After all 'mindfulness' is the forerunner of all rules be it 227 or 311.
Just leave the superstitious away.
There no house rules or whatsoever - remember the 'Four Pairs of
Persons' the Sotapatti.....they have at least 8 Noble Path/Rules to
practice coupled with Sammananna and Samma Vimutti to achieve their
ultimate goal.
Hope this would help.
Willy Lim


-----Original Message-----
From: Pali@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Pali@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Ong Yong Peng
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 8:56 AM
To: Pali@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Pali] Laypeople and the Vinaya [was:
Mahaasatipa.t.thaanasutta.m]

Dear Ven. Yuttadhammo, Piya and friends,

I have a question concerning laypeople and the Vinaya. In some
Buddhist traditions, particularly the various Chinese traditions,
there is a belief that laypeople should not read the Vinaya, and
another belief that any layperson doing so will go to hell. I think
the only exceptions would be non-Buddhists and scholars, although
that is quite a lot of people. I like to know what does the different
Theravada traditions (Thai, Burmese, Sinhalese, etc.) say about this.

The reason for this Chinese tradition, as I learnt from a Mahayana
monk, is so that laypeople will not be judgmental of monks and nuns,
which can also be bad karma! It makes sense?. Because of this
[Chinese tradition], I have long regarded the Vinaya as house rules
to an exclusive group of people, i.e. the monks and nuns. So,
laypeople do not have the rights to judge about the internal affairs
of the monastic community. At the same time, monks and nuns cannot
apply their "house rules" to laypeople, since it is, afterall,
for "internal use only". Fair and square.

Frankly, I am happy with it. I am not bothered with the rules since I
am not a monk. And, I have avoided the Vinaya for the above reason.
However, I always like to learn more about the Buddha and his life.
And, unfortunately, a large part of the narratives of his life
in 'locked' in the Vinaya Pitaka. What should I do?

Thank you.


metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Yuttadhammo wrote:
> Could Bhante or anyone  please refresh my memory regarding a
> monk's shaving their head. Is this once a month or when the
> hair is two fingers' breadth. Also it would be good if you
> could let me have the citation.

"The hair of the head should not be worn long. Whoever should do so:
an offense of wrong doing. I allow two-month (growth) or two
fingerbreadths."
-- Cv.V.2.2





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