The development of Vinaya rules

A study of the early period of the sangha must begin with the assumption that they followed the principles established by the Buddha

• Almost certaintly, the samana element of wandering quickly disappeared, leaving a more static community known as the sangha

We must consider how the sangha followed and developed the rules established by the Buddha

• These rules were known as the Vinaya and were eventually written down as the Vinaya Pitaka (basket of discipline), which is the first section of the Buddhist scriptures and…