BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code IChapter 2NissayaThe Dhamma and Vinaya impinge in such detail on so many areas of one's life thatno new bhikkhu can be expected to master them in a short time. For this reason,the Buddha arranged for a period of apprenticeship — called nissaya, ordependence — in which every newly ordained bhikkhu must train under theguidance of an experienced bhikkhu for at least five years before he can beconsidered competent to look after himself.This apprenticeship has formed the human context in which the practice of theBuddha's teachings has been passed down for the past 2,600 years. To overlook itis to miss one of the basic parameters of the life of the Dhamma and Vinaya. Thuswe will discuss it here first, before going on to the individual training rules of thePāṭimokkha.Dependence is of two sorts: dependence on one's preceptor (upajjhāya) anddependence on a teacher (ācariya). The relationships are similar — and in manydetails, identical — so the following discussion will use the word mentor to coverboth preceptor and teacher wherever the pattern applies to both, and will distinguishthem only where the patterns differ.Choosing a mentor. Before ordination, one must choose a bhikkhu to act as one'spreceptor. The Mahāvagga (I.36-37) gives a long list of qualifications a bhikkhumust meet before he can act as a preceptor, while the Commentary divides the listinto two levels: ideal and minimal qualifications. A bhikkhu who lacks the minimalqualifications incurs a dukkaṭa if he acts as a preceptor; a bhikkhu who meets theminimal but lacks the ideal qualifications is not an ideal person to give guidance,but he incurs no penalty in doing so.The ideal qualifications: The preceptor should have an arahant's virtue,concentration, discernment, release, and knowledge and vision of release; andshould be able to train another person to the same level of attainment. He shouldhave faith, a sense of shame, a sense of compunction (in the American sense ofthe term, i.e., an reluctance to do wrong for fear of its consequences), persistencein the practice, and quick mindfulness (according to the Sub-commentary, thismeans that he is constantly mindful of whatever mental object is before the mind).He should be free of heavy and light offenses, and be possessed of right view.(This last point, the Commentary says, means that he does not adhere to theextremes of eternalism or annihilationism.) He should be competent to tend to asick pupil or to find someone who will tend to him, and to dispel dissatisfaction in apupil who wants to leave the celibate life.The Mahāvagga does not say outright that these are ideal, as opposed to minimal,qualifications, but the Commentary offers as proof the fact that one of a pupil'sduties is to try to allay any dissatisfaction that may arise in his preceptor. If all9