Uposatha and Patimokkha assemblies

Following the practice of the non-Buddhistic sects, Buddha introduced (tradition says
at the instance of King Bimbisara) the fortnightly sitting of monks either on the 14
th
or 1
th
day to hold discussion about the !hamma and "inaya and to recei#e the rules
of $atimokkha% Before the recitation, the preliminaries to be attended were& sweeping
of the 'posatha hall, pro#ision of seats, lamps and drinking water, formal
announcement of the day, declaration of $arisuddhi (purity) of all members, selection
of monks to put and answer (uestions relating the !hamma and "inaya, counting of
the members to ascertain the completeness of the )avgha%
*s the completeness implied a +urisdiction of the )avgha, rules were framed for
defining the limits (sima) of a )avgha, i%e%, of a $atimokkha assembly% Formal
selection was made of the spot where the monks were to meet for the purpose of a
$atimokkha assembly% ,ompleteness of an assembly implied also the presence of not
only all the e-isting members of A#asa but also of those who might belong to another
A#asa but happened to be present on the 'posatha day within the sima of that
A#asa% .here were occasions when the members of an A#asa held an assembly
without being assured of the presence of members belonging to another a#asa, but
dwelling within the A#asa on the 'posatha day% /ules were prescribed for bonafide
mistakes, but, as a rule, if the members of another a#asa were larger in number, the
assembly had to be held anew% 0hen, howe#er, an assembly became guilty of either
!ukkhata or .hullaccaya (gra#e offence) according to the nature of the intention% .he
Bhikkhus, howe#er, were directed not to lea#e their residence on the 'posatha day
e-cept on an urgent bisiness of the )avgha%
.he Bhikkhus were re(uired to attend the assembly fully dressed (tici#arena
a#ippa#asa) with certain e-ceptions, recite the rules of the $atimokkha in e-tensor,
abridging it only in cases of danger% 1n cases of necessity Bhikkhus from other A#asas
were in#ited for reciting the $atimokkha%
.here were special procedures for the declaration of $arisuddhi by a sick monk, for
obtaining his consent to the ecclesiastical acts passed in the assembly, and for dealing
with a monk who has become insane% .he minimum number of members who could
hold a $atimokkha assembly was four& for declaration of $arisuddhi only, the
minimum number of Bhikkhus re(uired was two, and in both the cases actual
attendance of the members was indispensable% 1f there was only one Bhikkhu in an
A#asa, he had to take to adhitthana (decision)% .he $arisuddhi of an assembly was
obtained by making all the members declares indi#idually that they had not
committed any breach of the $atimokkha rules during the preceding fortnight, or by
making those who had committed any breach confess their offences% .hese were had
committed any breach confess their offences% .hese were e-ceptional occasions when
collecti#e declaration of $arisuddhi was accepted%
.he recitation of the $atimokkha could be made only in an assembly in which the
members had declared their $arisuddhi and in which there were no Bhikkhunis,
)amaneras, )amaneris, or any Bhikkhu undergoing punishment, or persons not
admissible to the )avgha% 1n the ,ulla#agga it is laid down that the recitation of the
$atimokkha should be interdicted ($atimokkhaj thapetabbaj) if there were any
impure Bhikkhu in the assembly% .he interdiction was re(uired in cases where
Bhikkhus were too obstinate to acknowledge their guilt%