The Patimokkha: 227 Fundamental Rules of a Bhikkhu

This book focuses on the Pātimokkha as the fundamental disciplinary framework governing the life of a Theravāda bhikkhu. Its main content moves from the historical formation of monastic discipline to the practical recitation and application of the rules within the Saṅgha. It explains the role of Uposatha observance, the need for purity before communal recitation, and the connection between Vinaya discipline and the preservation of the Buddha’s teaching. The core of the volume is the Bhikkhu-pātimokkha in Pāli and English, arranged according to the traditional categories of offences: Pārājika, Saṅghādisesa, Aniyata, Nissaggiya Pācittiya, Pācittiya, Pāṭidesanīya, Sekhiya, and Adhikaraṇasamatha. These sections provide a structured view of monastic ethics, from the most serious breaches of the holy life to rules of training, restraint, confession, etiquette, and legal settlement. The work presents Vinaya not as an abstract legal system, but as a practical discipline designed to sustain moral conduct, communal integrity, and the long-term stability of the Saṅgha.