BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1The Vinaya-mukha objects to this judgment, saying that "rejoins the preceptor"should refer to the pupil's actually living with the preceptor, either in anothermonastery or in the same monastery where the teacher lives. This, however, is anarea where different Communities differ in their interpretation, and the wise policy isto follow the interpretation of the Community in which one lives.Temporary exemption from dependence. Normally a junior bhikkhu is required to livein dependence under a mentor at all times. However, Mv.I.73 allows him not to takedependence when living in any of the following situations if no qualified bhikkhu isavailable as a mentor: 1. He is on a journey. 2. He is ill. 3. He is caring for an ill person who has requested his help (§). 4. He is living alone in the wilderness, meditating comfortably, intending totake dependence if a qualified mentor comes along.The Commentary, in discussing these allowances, makes the following points:A bhikkhu on a journey is said to have no mentor available if no qualified seniorbhikkhu is traveling with him. In other words, the fact that he happens to pass by amonastery containing a qualified mentor does not mean that a mentor is available,and he is allowed to continue traveling without taking dependence. If, however, hespends the night in a place where he has taken dependence before, he should takedependence on the day of his arrival. If he reaches a place where he has neverbeen before and plans to spend only two or three days, he need not takedependence; but if he plans to spend a week, he must. If the senior bhikkhu herequests dependence from says, "What's the use of taking dependence for only aweek?" that exempts him from this requirement.As for the bhikkhu living alone in the wilderness, the Commentary says that"meditating comfortably" means that his tranquility and insight meditation are goingsmoothly. For some reason, though, it says that this allowance applies only tobhikkhus whose meditation is at a tender stage and might deteriorate if they were toleave the wilderness; if a bhikkhu has attained any of the noble attainments —beginning with stream-entry — he may not make use of this allowance. Why theCommentary limits the allowance in this way, it doesn't say.At any rate, once the month before the Rains-residence (vassa) arrives and nosuitable mentor appears, the junior bhikkhu must leave his wilderness abode andlook for a place with a suitable mentor under whom he can take dependence for theRains.Release from dependence. According to Mv.I.53.4, a bhikkhu may be released fromdependence after he has been ordained for five years, on the condition that he beexperienced and competent. If he is not yet experienced and competent, he mustremain under dependency until he is. If he never becomes experienced andcompetent, he must remain in dependence for his entire life as a bhikkhu. TheCommentary adds that, in the last case, if he cannot find a competent experienced16