A Comparative Study of the Prātimokṣa: On the Basis of its Chinese, Tibetan, Sanskrit and Pāli Versions

The book begins by presenting the Prātimokṣa as a foundational disciplinary code developed to regulate the life of Buddhist monks and nuns within the Saṅgha. It explains that the rules arose from the practical needs of communal religious life, where members came from different social and religious backgrounds and therefore required a common code of conduct. The introductory section discusses the meaning of the term Prātimokṣa / Pātimokkha, comparing interpretations from Pāli, Chinese, Tibetan, and Sanskrit traditions, especially the meanings of “deliverance,” “liberation,” and “principal” or “chief” rule. It then examines the number, date, and authorship of the rules, their connection with early Buddhist councils, and their development among different Buddhist schools. Pachow pays special attention to the comparative antiquity of the Prātimokṣa texts and to the significance of rule counts preserved in different traditions. The second major section compares the Prātimokṣa texts of various schools, using the Sarvāstivādin version as the reference point and arranging the rules according to their disciplinary categories. The final section provides appendices, classification tables, concordance tables, discussion of the Prātimokṣa and the Vinaya, bibliography, and index. Through this structure, the work offers both a historical introduction and a technical comparative apparatus for studying the Buddhist monastic code across multiple textual traditions.