z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 06.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 421
THE SANGH
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The Confession was confined to the transgressions of restrictions (which were called Patimokha).
For a Confession there was to be a meeting of the Bhikkhus of a given locality. There were to be three such meetings in a fortnight, one each on C HATURDASHI, P ANCHADASI and A SHATAMI . On that day the Bhikkhus may fast. That is why the day is also called U POSATH .
At the meeting a Bhikkhu reads the restrictions one by one contained in the Patimokha. After reading a restriction he says to the assembled Bhikkhus, “I take it that none of you have transgressed this Rule, that is why you are silent.” He says this three times. Then deals with the next restriction.
A similar Confessional meeting is required of the Bhikhhuni Sangh.
On a Confession a charge and trial may follow.
On a failure to Confess, any Bhikkhu may report a transgression if he was a witness to it and then a charge and trial may follow.
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