Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

This paper focuses on the rules of category of good behavior (衆學法; sikkhā karaṇiyā), as a way of practicing on the vinaya. The ‘sekhiya dhamma’ (衆學法), the sixth category of the precepts (pātimokkha), was derived from ‘the Dhamma on Proper Behaviors’ (威儀法). The Sekhiya Rules, if violated, involved dukkata (惡作, wrong doing) penance, the slightest penalty. The rules were basically for minor offences requesting caution and attention among the Sangha. On the other hands, according to previous several studies about the Sekhiya Rules, the number of clauses from the Sekhiyavaṭṭa is depending on the vinayas, because the vinaya assigned to the Sanghas relied on the sociocultural environment. Because of these conditions, the Sekhiya Rules can be seen as a vinaya, not a sīla. The Dharmaguptakavinaya specifies one hundred clauses regarding the Sekhiya Rules. Following chapters, “Ritual Performances Khandhaka, 法犍度” and “ Miscellany Khandhaka, 雜犍度,” provide detailed explanation about the Dhamma on Proper Behaviors. Particularly, “Miscellany Khandhaka” shows the way of a monastic practicing toward the achievement of enlightenment. This paper discusses how the Dhamma on Proper Behaviors can be the object of mindfulness and awareness practice as the sattipaṭṭhāna (念處). The Sekhiya Rules and the Dhamma on Proper Behaviors are introduced in the Mahā satipaṭṭāna-sutta (DN22) as the object of practices. As the ground of mindfulness and awareness practice, the Sekheya Rules are not only the most important foundation to recover the purity of Sangha but also the cornerstone of all Buddhist practices.