Pratimoksha vows

The vows of pratimoksha (Skt. pratimokṣa-saṃvara; Wyl. so thar gyi sdom pa) or vows of ‘individual liberation’ (Skt. pratimokṣa; Wyl. so sor thar pa) mainly emphasize disciplining one’s physical behaviour and not harming others.

Pratimoksha discipline is called the foundation of Buddhism because for ordinary people physical discipline is the beginning of spiritual training and the basis of spiritual progress. The aspiration of the pure pratimoksha discipline is the achievement of liberation for oneself, as it belongs to the shravaka training. However, since Tibetan Buddhists are automatically followers of the Mahayana, they emphasize taking the pratimoksha vows with the attitude of bodhichitta.

Seven Types of Pratimoksha Vows

These are the vows of:

1. a fully ordained monk (Skt. bhikshu) or
2. a fully ordained nun (Skt. bhikshuni);
3. a novice monk (Skt. shramanera) or
4. a novice nun (Skt. shramanerika);
5. a female novice in training for full ordination (Skt. shikshamana) and
6. a male lay practitioner (Skt. upasaka) or
7. a female lay practitioner (Skt. upasika).

There are sometimes said to be eight types of pratimoksha vows. The eighth category is that of the one day lay vows (Skt. ashtangopavasa shiksha; Tib. nyen né).

External Links

• Pratimoksha vows on Lotsawa School