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Question 1

Breaking the first or fourth Parajikas

Answer 1

Incurs serious karmic consequences; it would be better to be a lay person than to break these rules

Question 2

Breaking the second or third Parajikas

Answer 2

A monk who breaks these rules is subject to the laws of the land and so cannot be a part of the Sangha

Question 3

How many rules do Theravadin Buddhists have to follow?

Answer 3

227

Question 4

Pali Canon

Answer 4

The set of Buddhist scriptures written in the language of Pali and known as the Tripitaka

Question 5

Parajika

Answer 5

Means defeat. Breaking the rules leads to expulsion from the Sangha.

Question 6

Patimokkha

Answer 6

The practice of reciting precepts (rules) in the Theravada Sangha. It is chanted by monks at the observance days, which take place on new and full moons.

Question 7

Reasons for following the rules given by the Buddha

Answer 7

For the excellence of the community; for the peace of the community; the curbing of the shameless; the comfort of all well-behaved bhikkhus; the restraint of all pollutants related to the present and next life; the arousing of faith in the faithless; the increase of the faithful; the establishment of the true Dharma; and the fostering of discipline

Question 8

Rules about right action include…

Answer 8

Killing humans and animals, including abortion, taking anything which is not given, and any form of sexual contact

Question 9

Rules about communal harmony include…

Answer 9

Revealing the misdemeanors of monks to lay people, criticising community officials or their policies, being untidy, and failing to admit any offences against the rules voluntarily

Question 10

Rules about correct behaviour for monks include…

Answer 10

Gardening and growing food, swimming for fun, travelling with thieves, teaching a listener who carries a weapon, and urinating whilst standing

Question 11

Rules about right livelihood include…

Answer 11

Using the status of a monk to gain favours or treat others as inferior, having unnecessary personal possessions, being greedy or selfish with food, owning a hut or shelter, and earning money

Question 12

Rules about right speech include…

Answer 12

Forbidding lying, bearing false witness, divisive, insulting or abusive speech, idle chatter and gossip

Question 13

The Four Parajikas

Answer 13

Intentional sexual intercourse of any kind with a human or animal
Theft of an object which has some value
Murder of a human being (either personally, instructing an assassin or encouraging suicide)
Making false claims about one’s own stage of awakening or spiritual knowledge

Question 14

The original purpose of the Patimokkha ceremonies

Answer 14

So that monks and nuns could declare openly, in front of the whole community, any digression from a rule

Question 15

The reasons for creating the rules

Answer 15

To ensure peace and wellbeing in the community; to support and protect the faith of the lay people by setting an example of calm and self control; to help monks avoid creating negative mental states through self-awareness and discipline

Question 16

Theravada Buddhism

Answer 16

‘The way of the elders’, or ‘lesser vehicle’. The only school of Buddhism that uses only the Pali Canon.

Question 17

The rules of the Patimokkha fit into five categories:

Answer 17

Right speech, right action, right livelihood, communal harmony and correct behaviour for monks