the recitation of the pátimokkha

Preparation of the uposatha

In Pali, the procedure of verbal presentation of the pátimokkha to the assembly of all the saµgha is called the uposatha. This takes place on every full moon and every new moon.

Before starting to observe the uposatha, four jobs must be carried out; the four pubbakaraša ("pubba" = in advance; "karaša" = job, duty).

At the time of doing the uposatha, when all the assembly of the saµgha meets in the símá, there are five things that must be reported before reciting the pátimokkha; the five "pubbakicca " ("pubba" = in advance; "kicca" = thing, duty).

The four pubbakarašas

Sweeping the floor (or the ground) of the símá.
Lighting the símá with oil lamps (or electric lights).
Setting out water (clean) at the entrance of the símá (the water is used for drinking and eventually to pour on one's feet. In northern India at the time of Buddha, it was customary to wash the feet before entering in buildings).
Arranging mats or rugs to sit in the símá.

The five pubbakiccas

Report of the chanda. If because of illness or any other reason a bhikkhu cannot attend the símá, he must convey his chanda (his consent) by informing a bhikkhu who attends the símá, so that the assembled members of the saµgha can take the necessary decisions. In turn, once he is in the símá, the latter will convey this information to the assembly of bhikkhus.
Report of the párisuddhi. When the uposatha is about to take place, if there is in the monastery a bhikkhu who has already done the uposatha in another monastery, he must convey his párisuddhi. This is to insure that every bhikkhu's mind is cleansed of all moral impurities.
Report of the date. This allows everybody to know the date, especially those bhikkhus who are doing long term retreats.
Report of the number of bhikkhus present in the símá. The uposatha is the only certain occasion when all the bhikkhus are assembled.
Report of what the bhikkhunís require in terms of teaching. In the times when there were still bhikkhunís, they could, during the uposatha, request a teaching from a bhikkhu. To do this, the assembled saµgha, after discussion, assigned a qualified and accomplished bhikkhu to go and impart a teaching to the bhikkhunís on the day following the uposatha.

Once the uposatha has finished, the bhikkhus, having given their párisuddhi, have already done the uposatha and the bhikkhus, having given their chanda, have reached agreement in advance on their position for the eventual decisions to be taken by the saµgha. These points must always be respected because they contribute to offer and maintain perfect agreement between all the members of the community. Only in this way, whatever the saµgha undertakes cannot but be beneficial to all.

Before doing the uposatha, every bhikkhu must have pure síla. The saµghádisesa must have been expiated in conformity with the due procedure. The pá†idesaníya must have been confessed to at least four bhikkhus. Concerning the other four kinds of fault (thullaccaya, pácittiya, dukka†a and dubbhásita), everybody must perform desaná so as to be completely purified morally. It is only then that the recitation of the 227 rules of the pátimokkha can be heard.

Once the rules of the pátimokkha have been announced, the bhikkhu who has announced them asks if any of them have been breached, if such is the case, by confessing his fault (or faults), the bhikkhu must separate from the community. Having assumed his offence, he must purify it. If everyone remains silent, this indicates that none of the rules has been transgressed, and then the bhikkhu who has presented the pátimokkha can declare:

"Having given their silence, we may consider that the saµgha is pure".

The meeting of the saµgha to announce the pátimokkha at each new moon and each full moon (about twice a month), is a way to control regularly the purity of síla in all the members of the community.

The different types of uposathas

The uposatha with four or more bhikkhus

Once the chanda and the párisuddhi have been conveyed, and the desaná, the four pubbakaraša and the five "pubbakicca" carried out, the recitation of the pátimokkha rules can take place. In certain cases, the pátimokkha can only be partially recited (for example, only the párájika, the saµghádisesa and the aniyata).

When the bhikkhu has finished announcing the rules, it is customary for all the bhikkhus present in the símá to recite some suttas.

The uposatha with one, two or three bhikkhus

During the uposatha, to assemble the bhikkhus in the símá in order to present the pátimokkha, there must be a saµgha. At least four bhikkhus are required to consider that the saµgha is assembled. Thus, on the uposatha day, if there are less than four bhikkhus present in the vihára, the procedure is rather different: the four pubbakaraša and the five "pubbakicca" cannot be carried out and the pátimokkha is not presented. After having performed the desaná, the bhikkhus simply recite a short formula.

If there are three bhikkhus in the vihára

After having performed the desaná, one of the three bhikkhus announces to the other two:

"sušátu me áyasmanto, ajjuposatho pannaraso (catuddaso) yadáyasdhantánaµ pattakallaµ, mayaµ aññmaññaµ párisuddhi uposathaµ kareyyáma."

"Venerables, listen attentively to what I say to you: today, we are on the fifteenth (fourteenth) lunar day, the uposatha day. The time when the uposatha must be done has arrived. Together let us purify ourselves and do the uposatha".

Next, the most senior says (three times in succession):

"parisuddho ahaµ ávuso, parisuddhoti maµ dhárehi".

"avuso, I am purified of all faults. I inform you that I am pure of conduct.".

In turn, the more junior addresses himself to the most senior:

"sádhu bhante, sádhu sádhu".

"Good bhante, very good".

(three times in succession):

"parisuddho ahaµ bhante, parisuddhoti maµ dháretha".

"bhante, I am purified of all faults. I inform you that I am pure of conduct.".

The senior then concludes:

"sádhu avuso, sádhu sádhu".

"Good avuso, very good ".

Remarks: Whatever the number of bhikkhus, the uposatha must be done in the símá (even by a bhikkhu who is alone in the vihára).

If there are two bhikkhus in the vihára

Soon as the desaná has been done, the most senior addresses the most junior saying (three times in succession):

"parisuddho ahaµ ávuso, parisuddhoti maµ dhárehi".

"avuso, I am purified of all faults. I inform you that I am pure of conduct.".

In turn, the most junior addresses himself to the most senior:

"sádhu bhante, sádhu sádhu".

"Good bhante, very good".

(three times in succession):

"parisuddho ahaµ bhante, parisuddhoti maµ dháretha".

"bhante, I am purified of all faults. I inform you that I am pure of conduct.".

The senior concludes:

"sádhu avuso, sádhu sádhu".

"Good avuso, very good ".

If there is only one bhikkhu in the vihára

On the fourteenth lunar day (three times in succession):

"ija me uposato catuddasí adhi††hámi".

"Today, the fifteenth lunar day, I do the uposatha "

On the fifteenth lunar day (three times in succession):

"ajja me uposatho pannarasoti adhi††hámi".

"Today, the fifteenth lunar day, I do the uposatha"

Remarks: Given that the lunar calendar is based on the moon phases, the month sometimes has twenty-nine days and sometimes thirty. Months are divided into two "pakkha" (parts); the first running from the new moon to the full moon, and the next from the full moon to the new moon. The uposatha days fall on the last day of "pakkha", corresponding either to the fourteenth day or to the fifteenth day.