Vinaya Piṭaka (lectured by ven. Dehipagoda Vijitananda) 2011

               Vinaya means 'order' or 'discipline'. It is different from Dhamma. The traditional belief is that the Vinaya rules were promulgated by the Buddha after 20 years of His enlightenment. In the Buddha's life, the expert on Vinaya was ven. Upāli (Vinayathera). After passing away of the Buddha, ven. Kassapa arranged a council, where Vinaya developed into several texts. In the early period there was Ubhatovibhaṅga and Khandhaka. In the long run, Vinaya Piṭaka was completed by Theravāda monks. In Sri Lanka, especially Ven. Dīpa, who was a monk in Mahāvihāra, introduced Parivāra Pāḷi in the period of king Vālakrama. In this study of Vinaya Piṭaka, we are able to recognize some facts showing, that Vinaya Piṭaka was edited by Theravāda monks. Maybe  those edition were given during the first and second councils by editors. The Parivāra and Pācittiya Pāḷi were compiled in a special structure. That structure consisted of seven parts as follows:

             1.       Vatthu.
             2.       Nidāna.
             3.       Puggala.
             4.       Paññatti.
             5.       Anupaññatti.
             6.       Ᾱpatti.
             7.       Anāpatti.

             These seven parts were not introduced by the Buddha. If it is true, Theravāda monks should contradict this development in Vinaya Piṭaka. It is very easy to recognize the contribution of Theras going through Padabhājanī system (commentarial explanation on Vinaya Piṭaka).

             Pañca Satika Khandhaka in Cūḷavagga Pāḷi is the third evidence to show that the Vinaya Piṭaka was developed by Mahā Therās. Through that Khandhaka consulted the details of the First Council. In that case we can mention exactly that it was added by Theravāda monks. The final Khandhaka of Cūḷavagga Pāḷi, mentioned as Sattasatikakkhandhaka is also a later addition. It reveals the details of the Second Council, which was held by Mahā Theras hundred years after the Parinibbāna of the Buddha. Because of the information “hundred years later” has also been included there. Thus it is very difficult accept that Cūḷavagga Pāḷi was entirely preached by the Buddha. At the conclusion of this discussion, we are able to mention, that Vinaya Piṭaka was much extended by the Theras.

                Parivāra Pāḷi is very helpful as it included profound ideas. The Parivāra Pāḷi reveals, that it was compiled by ven. Dīpa himself. With this clear evidence, finally, We may come into a conclusion that in Sutta Piṭaka there are no points to prove that any monk tried to describe or explain the Vinaya rules. According to this argument, in the early Buddhism the master of Vinaya promulgation was only the Buddha. (That is why the tradition introduced the Buddha as Vinayaka, used as an adjective.)[1]

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[1]     This sentence doesn't make sense – 1. Vinayaka is a word which does not appear in any Pāli texts, and moreover, it is a synonym for elephant god Ganesha; 2. Vinayaka is a noun and not an adjective.