23 – How Buddhists Should Behave: Evolution of the Buddhist Precepts Part 2
In this episode, I continue with the story of the Theravadin precepts (see Part 1 for the first part of the story) – particularly how the Vinaya has affected the ordination of monks and nuns, and how lay people participate in precept practice. Then we move on to China, and I talk about how the Chinese dealt with the question of how to establish an authentic Buddhist lineage while adapting the Vinaya to China, and avoiding the trap of “hinayana” practice that Mahayana sutras warned about (was the Vinaya “hinayana” practice?). They responded by creating additional Mahayana precepts, and elaborate sets of monastic regulations.
