Buddhist Dhamma-Vinaya System in Cambodia

There are also three levels of Dhamma-Vinaya School in which the courses are continuously provided for three years in the monasteries through the countries. According to the statistics 2012-2013 of Ministry of Cults and Religious Affairs, there are 7,390 students who studied in Dhamma-vinaya schools and 659 teachers of Dhamma-Vinaya.5 Actually, in​​ 2 the past time, Dhamma-Vinaya Schools were so popular in Cambodia. Buddhist monks and novices had to attend Dhamma-Vinaya school when they got ordination in Buddhasasana. Dhamma and Vinaya are critically taught to all students, especially, novices and monks from various places.

Dhamma, here in the Dhamma-Vinaya School, is focused on the numeral terms of Buddha’s teachings. All students have to memorize the numeral terms of Dhamma, for example, Sabbe Sattà Àhàraååhitikà – all beings are maintained by nutriment is well explained. After memorizing, students have been allowed to talk or explain this term to the class. This is the way to develop speaking skill of Dhamma. And Vinaya means ‘discipline, rule, morality, or virtue', which is a mode of mind and volition manifested in speech or bodily action. It is the foundation of the whole Buddhist practice, and therewith the first of the three kinds of training (sikkhā) that form the threefold division of the Noble Eightfold Path, i.e. morality, concentration and wisdom. 

Other interesting subjects which have been provided in Dhamma-Vinaya school are the Life of Buddha and the Sayings of the Buddha. The novices, monks and students have been gradually taught the history of Gotama Buddha in which it is started from the time Sumedha Bodhisatva met the Buddha Dipankara up to the end of His life (Parinibbana). And the Sayings of the Buddha are also taught to students because it is very necessary to understand what the Buddha taught. Here, the Sayings are focused on the verses or stanzas of the Buddha and Arahats. These four essential subjects have been widely provided in Dhamma –Vinaya School; and at the end of each academic year, students have to sit for certificate examination which is held for whole country.