We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track. If this problem persists help us by reporting it so we can investigate it.
Watch this talk
Login or create a free account to watch this talk and discover other teachings from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Log in or create an account
Tripitaka - Southern Transmission 28 A
Summarizing the insight into the Buddha as a human being, a teacher, a father, a friend, a poet, and a social organizer. The Buddha’s educational method is like that of a horse trainer with three ways: gentle, strong, or both gentle and strong; if these fail, then “kill” (expel from the Sangha) so as not to spoil the community, yet still maintaining compassion without killing the good seeds. Human beings have two elements: nature and culture. Sexual needs must be transformed, not suppressed or repressed. Methods to deal with this include: viewing women as mothers, sisters, or younger sisters; contemplating impermanence and nonself; and most importantly, guarding the six sense organs. Physiological energy needs to be transformed into constructive energy and service through work, meditation practice, and study to accomplish the career of liberation, just as Mahatma Gandhi preserved his spiritual energy for the struggle.
Studying the Vinaya Pitaka and the distinction between Sila (moral precepts) and Vinaya (rules of conduct for the Sangha). The main Vinaya codes analyzed include:
- The Vinaya of the Tamrasatiya school, consisting of three parts: Suttavibhanga (divided into Mahavibhanga and Bhikkhuni Vibhanga); Khandhaka (22 chapters divided into Mahavagga with 10 chapters and Cullavagga with 12 chapters); and Parivara (19 chapters).
- The Ten Recitations Vinaya of the Sarvastivada school, consisting of 61 fascicles with ten recitations: rules for bhikshus, seven dharmas, eight dharmas, miscellaneous recitations, rules for bhikshunis, Ekottara, Upali’s questions, and Vinaya recitation (related to Matrika).
- The Four-Part Vinaya of the Dharmagupta school, consisting of 60 fascicles divided into six parts: bhikshu rules, bhikshuni rules, 20 khandhakas, collection of Vinaya dharmas, settlement of disputes, and Ekottara Vinaya.
- The Mahasanghika Vinaya of the Mahasanghika school, consisting of 40 volumes.
- The Five-Part Vinaya of the Mahisasaka school, consisting of 30 fascicles divided into five parts: bhikshu rules, bhikshuni rules, nine methods regarding ordination, seven ways to settle disputes and karma, and eight dharmas regarding schism in the Sangha.
- The Mulasarvastivada Vinaya.
In Tang Dynasty China, Vinaya Master Daoxuan of the Mount Zhongnan school devoted his energy to expounding and selecting the Four-Part Vinaya as the foundation because it suited the capacity of the people, greatly influencing the tradition of practice and study in Vietnam to this day.