BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1preceptors were arahants, no case of this sort would ever arise and there would beno need to mention it. Thus the Commentary concludes that arahantship, althoughideal in a preceptor, is not necessary.The minimal qualifications: The preceptor must be learned and competent.According to the Commentary, this means that he knows enough of the Dhammaand Vinaya to govern a following and is competent enough to know what is and isnot an offense. He must also be competent enough to allay, in line with theDhamma, any anxiety that has arisen in his pupil; must know what is and is not anoffense, what is a light offense, what is a heavy offense, and how an offense maybe removed. He must have detailed knowledge of both Pāṭimokkhas (the one for thebhikkhus and the one for the bhikkhunīs) and be able to train the pupil in thebhikkhus' customs (Com.: this means that he knows the Khandhakas), in the basicrules of the chaste life (Sub-com.: he knows both Vibhaṅgas), the higher Dhamma,and the higher Vinaya. He must be able, in line with the Dhamma, to pry his pupilaway from a wrong view, or to find someone who will help pry him away. And — themost basic requirement — he must have been ordained as a bhikkhu for ten yearsor more.If, for some reason, the new bhikkhu lives in a separate monastery from hispreceptor, he must take dependence under a teacher, whose qualifications areprecisely the same as those for a preceptor. Because the Mahāvagga (I.72.1) givesa dukkaṭa for taking dependence under an unconscientious bhikkhu, the newbhikkhu is allowed four to five days to observe his potential teacher's conductbefore taking dependence under him (Mv.I.72.2).Taking dependence. Prior to his ordination — and usually, as part of the ceremonyitself — the candidate must make a formal request for dependence from hispreceptor. The procedure is as follows:Arranging his upper robe over his left shoulder, leaving his right shoulder bare, hebows down to the preceptor and then, kneeling with his hands palm-to-palm infront of his heart, repeats the following passage three times:"Upajjhāyo me bhante hohi,"which means, "Venerable sir, be my preceptor."If the preceptor responds with any of these words — sāhu (very well), lahu(certainly), opāyikaṃ (all right), paṭirūpaṃ (it is proper), or pāsādikena sampādehi(attain consummation (in the practice) in an amicable way) — the dependence hastaken hold. Mv.I.25.7 adds that if the preceptor indicates any of these meanings bygesture, that also counts; and according to the Commentary, the same holds true ifhe makes any equivalent statement.If, after his ordination, the new bhikkhu needs to request dependence from ateacher, the procedure is the same, except that the request he makes three times isthis:10