Precepts (Patimokkha): Set of rules observed by Buddhist monastics. The number of rules varies for different orders and traditions and for monks (218-263) and nuns (279-380). In the Mahaparinirvana Sutra the Buddha told Ananda when he was dying that the minor rules did not have to be formally observed, but Ananda never asked the Buddha which were the minor ones, so the Sangha continues to observe all of them.