Theravada Buddhism’s Vinaya Pitaka lays out a remarkably detailed code of conduct. At its heart sits the Patimokkha, the fortnightly recited rule list: 227 rules for fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) and 311 for fully ordained nuns (bhikkhunīs). Together, that adds up to 538 core regulations shaping monastic life from dawn chants to twilight rest.

Beyond those, the Vinaya Pitaka branches into two more sections. The Khandhaka unpacks collective procedures—overseeing everything from ordination ceremonies to communal disputes—while the Parivāra offers analytical summaries and study guides. Though these don’t add new “rules” per se, they deepen understanding of how the 538 main precepts play out in daily practice.

Other Buddhist schools count a slightly different tally. The Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, for example, lists 253 rules for monks; the Dharmaguptaka tradition follows 250. Yet across cultures, all these codes share the same goal: fostering mindfulness, ethical clarity and harmonious community.

Recently, a gathering of senior monks in Colombo highlighted digital behavior under Vinaya guidance, showing that even 2,500-year-old rules can apply to streaming sermons and social-media mindfulness apps. By and large, the Vinaya’s enduring structure speaks to its timeless wisdom—proof that a well-shaped rulebook can still hit the nail on the head in today’s ever-changing world.