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🪷intro to buddhism review

Sekhiya

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Sekhiya refers to a set of training rules and regulations that guide the behavior of Buddhist monks and nuns in their monastic life. These rules are designed to help individuals cultivate discipline, mindfulness, and ethical conduct, contributing to their spiritual development and the harmony within the monastic community.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Sekhiya rules cover various aspects of monastic life, including etiquette, proper behavior, and interactions with laypeople.
  2. These training rules are not considered strict commandments but rather guidelines to help monks and nuns refine their conduct.
  3. Following sekhiya helps maintain a harmonious environment within the Sangha and promotes mutual respect among its members.
  4. Monastics often engage in discussions about sekhiya to reflect on their practices and make adjustments as needed.
  5. Sekhiya emphasizes personal responsibility, encouraging monks and nuns to be aware of their actions and their impact on others.

Review Questions

  • How do sekhiya rules influence the daily lives of monks and nuns in a monastery?
    • Sekhiya rules play a significant role in shaping the daily lives of monks and nuns by providing a framework for ethical behavior and social interactions. These guidelines help monastics navigate their relationships with one another and with laypeople, fostering an atmosphere of respect and harmony. By following these rules, monks and nuns can cultivate discipline and mindfulness in their practices, ultimately supporting their spiritual growth within the monastic community.
  • Discuss the relationship between sekhiya and Vinaya in the context of monastic discipline.
    • Sekhiya is closely related to Vinaya, as both serve to regulate the conduct of monastics. While Vinaya consists of formal rules that are obligatory for all members of the monastic community, sekhiya offers additional guidelines that focus on training in good behavior and ethical conduct. This complementary relationship allows monks and nuns to refine their personal practices while adhering to the foundational regulations established by Vinaya. Together, they promote a disciplined lifestyle conducive to spiritual development.
  • Evaluate the significance of sekhiya in fostering harmony within the Sangha and its broader implications for Buddhist practice.
    • Sekhiya holds great significance in fostering harmony within the Sangha by encouraging personal responsibility and mindfulness among its members. By adhering to these training rules, monks and nuns can create an environment based on mutual respect, which is essential for effective collaboration in spiritual pursuits. The broader implications for Buddhist practice include reinforcing communal support systems that enable individuals to grow spiritually while navigating challenges together. In this way, sekhiya not only aids individual development but also enhances the overall unity of the monastic community.