Sīmā Construction Project
Build A Consecrated Ground for Gautama Dhamma Monastery
A Sīmā is a designated boundary, often marked by physical markers, that defines a sacred space for specific monastic activities. It’s essentially a consecrated area within which certain important rituals and formal acts of the Saṇgha must be performed to be valid.
- Regulation of Monastic Life: The Sīmā provides a clear and defined space for the Saṇgha to conduct its affairs according to the Vinaya (monastic code of discipline). This includes:
- Ordination: The most important ceremony, where a novice becomes a fully ordained monk (Bhikkhu) or nun (Bhikkhuni), must take place within a Sīmā.
- Confession and Restoration: Monks confess their transgressions and undergo disciplinary procedures within the Sīmā.
- Recitation of the Patimokkha: The Patimokkha, a summary of the monastic rules, is recited fortnightly within the Sīmā.
- Other Formal Acts: Various other formal acts of the Saṇgha, such as settling disputes and making decisions, require a Sīmā.
- Maintaining Order and Harmony: The Sīmā helps to maintain order and harmony within the Saṇgha by providing a designated space for these important activities. It ensures that they are conducted properly and according to tradition.
- Spiritual Significance: The Sīmā is considered a sacred space, imbued with spiritual significance. It’s a place where the Saṇgha comes together to reaffirm its commitment to the Dharma and to strengthen its bonds of community.
The Sīmā is essential for the proper functioning of the Saṇgha. It provides a designated and consecrated space for the Saṇgha to carry out its important rituals and formal acts, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the monastic tradition. The Saṇgha, in turn, is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Sīmā. They are intrinsically linked, with the Sīmā serving as a vital support structure for the Saṇgha’s life and practice.
戒坛 – 僧团重要仪式的神圣场所
戒坛是一个指定的界限，通常用实物标记标出，它定义了一个用于特定僧团活动的神圣空间。本质上，它是一个受祝圣的区域，僧团的某些重要仪式和正式行为必须在其中进行才有效。
规范僧团生活： 戒坛为僧团提供了一个清晰且明确的空间，以按照《律藏》（僧团纪律规范）处理其事务。这包括：
- 受戒： 这是最重要的仪式，新人在其中成为完全受戒的比丘（和尚）或比丘尼（尼姑），必须在戒坛内进行。
- 忏悔与复戒： 僧人在戒坛内忏悔他们的过犯，并接受纪律处分。
- 诵戒： 《Patimokha》，一部戒律概要，每半月在戒坛内诵读。
- 其他正式行为： 僧团的各种其他正式行为，例如解决争端和做出决定，都需要戒坛。
维持秩序与和谐： 戒坛通过为这些重要活动提供指定的空间，帮助维持僧团内的秩序与和谐。它确保这些活动按照传统正确进行。
精神意义： 戒坛被认为是神圣的空间，充满了精神意义。僧团在此齐聚一堂，重申其对佛法的承诺，并加强其社群的联系。
戒坛对于僧团的正常运作至关重要。它为僧团进行重要的仪式和正式行为提供了指定且受祝圣的空间，确保了僧团传统的延续性和完整性。僧团反过来负责建立和维护戒坛。它们是内在联系的，戒坛是僧团生活和实践的重要支撑结构。
Gautama Dhamma 