Mahavagga
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
The Mahavagga is the first part of the Khandhaka, the second book of the Theravadin Vinaya Pitaka.
The Mahavagga has 10 chapters:
- the first chapter is simply called the great chapter; it starts with a narrative beginning immediately after the Buddha's enlightenment and telling of the beginning of his preaching and foundation of the order of monks; it goes on to give rules on ordination and related matters
- the second deals with the recitation of the Patimokkha, which is to take place every half month (at new and full moons) wherever there is a quorum of four monks
- then comes provision for the retreat for three months in the rainy season, when monks are supposed to stay in one place except for specified reasons
- at the end of the retreat they must invite their colleagues to say if they have any criticisms of their behaviour
- the fifth chapter is called the chapter on hides and deals with various topics
- the next chapter is on medicines; a passage authorizing inhalation of smoke through a tube is used by some modern monks to justify smoking
- the next chapter is called kathina, the process of making up robes, but is in fact about the exemptions granted monks from certain rules in consequence of this
- robe material
- a dispute between monks at Campa
- a dispute at Kosambi