A compound word created out of the Chinese translations of the two Sanskrit terms /si^la 戒 and vinaya 律. {I} A broad term for the set of rules and disciplines observed by Buddhist practitioners， whether they be monks 比丘， nuns 比丘尼 or householders， the application and interpretation of which varies widely among the various branches of Buddhism. The observance of these rules prevents dissipation， allowing the practitioner to have the spiritual energy to pursue the path to enlightenment. The householder practitioner， declaring his/her faith in the three treasures， receives a set of five precepts 五戒 from the monks and nuns. Before the age of 20， if a person wants to begin the process of becoming a member of the order， they choose a preceptor of the same sects， and from that preceptor， receive initiation into the ten precepts 十戒. If， after the age of 20， one wants to become a full-fledged member of the sangha， their application will be examined by a committee of elder monks. If they are accepted， they are then initiated into the full set of precepts 具足戒， which usually number about 250 for men and 350 for women.
{II} while vinaya are an integral part of every branch of Buddhism， as Buddhism worked its way into East Asia， certain groups of monks became specialists in the study， interpretation and implementation of vinaya， to the extent that "vinaya schools" were formed. Thus， in China， Korea and Japan， some monks are listed as being members of the vinaya school 戒律宗.