The Rules
Learn how to read the files for the Pātimokkha rules.
Opening a Rule File
The central hub of the Vinaya Bookshelf is the Pātimokkha folder. To open a rule, open the “Canon (Pali)” module’s “Patimokkha” folder and navigate to the rule you’re interested in.
The Rule File
When you open a rule file, you’ll see something like this:
Let’s walk through each part of this step-by-step:
| Rule note element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Path | The path to the rule file. |
| Filename | The name of the rule. Type [[ and a Filename to link to a note from one of your own notes. Learn more |
| SC UID | Sutta Central’s Unique Identifier for this rule. In Obsidian, you can also use aliases to link to a note. Learn more |
| The Rule | The Pāli text of the rule along with Ajahn Brahmali’s translation |
| Definitions | Any terms defined in the Vibhaṅga will get hyperlinked. |
| Variant Footnotes | If there are any variant readings known to SuttaCentral, these will appear as footnotes off that term. |
| Translator’s notes | Ajahn Brahmali’s notes will also appear as footnotes. Click on any footnote reference (or hover over it on desktop) to show the note. |
| External links | Any links with a open_in_new at the end will open in your browser. (On Desktop, you can enable “settings → Core plugins → Web viewer” to open external links in Obsidian itself.) |
Links to further reading
Below the rule itself, you’ll find various links to dig deeper into the rule:
Vibhaṅga
The Vibhaṅga section links to the various parts of the Pāli Canon’s own commentary on the rule.
Next
Next takes you to the next rule. This enables reading and studying the rules in order.
Pro tip: you can use Obsidian’s bookmarks feature to save your place.
Footnotes
Here you’ll find the footnotes on the rule mentioned above. Clicking the ↵ at the end will scroll you back up to that note’s reference location. Some of Ajahn Brahmali’s notes contain links to further discussion within his Appendices.
Linked mentions (aka “Backlinks”)
Here you’ll find a dynamic list of all the links across the vault that link to this rule. In the above screenshot, you can see the Bhikkhunī parallel rule and Ajahn Geoff’s chapter on this rule in The BMCv1. This section can be a good way to see if anyone else in your vault has written about this rule.
Last updated 28 Jul 2025, 00:54 +07 .