Śākyaprabha (ca. 7th–8th c. CE), an Indian specialist in Buddhist monastic law, composed two Sanskrit commentaries that both survive in Tibetan translation: The Āryamūlasarvāstivādiśrāmaṇerakārikā, or Verses for Novices of the Noble Mūlasarvāstivādins, and his own commentary upon the verses. Śākyaprabha distills the monastic regulations on novice Buddhist monks from the enormous monastic law code, or Vinaya, of the Mūlasarvāstivādin school, into roughly 240 verses. He organizes these verses around 14, instead of the usual 10, novice precepts. This talk will provide a general introduction to the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, and explore the role of the Vinayavibhāṣa, a commentary no longer extant, in Śākyaprabha’s organization of novice precepts and offenses.

Chris Emms is a PhD Candidate at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and Mūlasarvāstivādin Vinaya commentarial literature. His dissertation is a study and translation of select chapters of Śākyaprabha’s Āryamūlasarvāstivādiśrāmaṇerakārikā, or Verses for Novices of the Noble Mūlasarvāstivādins, together with its auto commentary. He is a Sanskrit Lecturer at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute and a Sessional Instructor at McMaster University. Chris spoke with students and participants at RYI on July 13, 2023.

Chris Emms - "Organizing the Vinaya: Śākyaprabha’s Arrangement of Novice Precepts and Offenses"

Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel Rinpoche - an eminent teacher of the Karma Kagyu lineage who is currently lecturing on tantric views and practices at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery - has accepted Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s request to present and discuss Buddhism’s three yānas based on Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye’s Treasury of Knowledge and he spoke with students at RYI on Feb, 4, 5 & 6, 2016 and translated by Dr. Thomas Doctor. 

Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel Rinpoche - "The Three Vehicles" Part-II

A cover of a song I heard on a cd by Nawang Khechog, a Tibetan musician who plays flute very nicely.

“Peace Through Kindness" cover

Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI) has conducted study programs in Nepal for more than 25 years. Since 2002 RYI has partnered with Kathmandu University offering academic credit for those study programs. In 2009 RYI launched its online learning program. Our aim is to utilise our expertise and experience to enable students from around the world to study Buddhism and Himalayan Languages with us.

Chris Emms - "Organizing the Vinaya: Śākyaprabha’s Arrangement of Novice Precepts and Offenses"

Rangjung Yeshe Institute

Related tracks