BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1Once a pupil has been released from dependence, the Commentary states that heneed no longer perform the duties mentioned in sections 4 and 5 under the pupil'sduties to his mentor.Return to dependence. The Cullavagga (I.9-12) states that a bhikkhu released fromdependence may be forced, by a Community transaction — called either ademotion transaction (niyasa-kamma) or a dependence transaction (nissayakamma)— to return to dependence if his conduct is so bad as to warrant it. Thequalifying factors are: 1. He is ignorant and inexperienced. 2. He is indiscriminately full of offenses (§). 3. He lives in unbecoming association with lay people.If these factors apply to a bhikkhu to the extent that the Community is "fed up withgranting him probation, sending him back to the beginning, imposing penance, andrehabilitating him" — these terms refer to the procedures for dealing with a bhikkhuwho has committed repeated saṅghādisesa offenses (see Chapter 5) — then theCommunity is justified in imposing a demotion (or dependence) transaction (seeBMC2, Chapter 20). This is similar to a "further punishment" transaction, to bediscussed in Chapter 11 of this volume, and carries the same penalties with theadditional penalty that the bhikkhu must live in dependence under a mentor as longas the transaction is in effect. If he mends his ways to the Community's satisfaction,they may rescind the transaction and return his independence.As mentioned above, the Commentary states that regardless of whether a pupil isunder dependence or released from it, he is still expected to observe certain dutiesto his preceptor — and his preceptor, certain duties to him — as long as both arealive and ordained. This is in line with the fact that they are always to regard eachother as father and son: The preceptor is to take a continuing interest in his pupil'swelfare, and the pupil is to show his continuing gratitude for the initiation hispreceptor has given him into the bhikkhu's life.18