Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 19Asking for Something Else

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

RULE 19

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Sāvatthī. At that time, the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā had a lay supporter. Early one morning, she put on her robe, took her bowl, and went to the lay supporter's house, saying:

"I need cream."

The lay supporter said:

"Very well!"

And immediately went out and purchased cream to bring back.

When the cream had been bought and brought back, the bhikkhunī said:

"I do not need cream; I need oil."

The lay supporter said:

"That is fine as well!"

The lay supporter then went to the shop and said:

"I do not need cream; I need oil."

The merchant said:

"I had to go through the procedure of buying cream in order to receive the cream from you. Now I must go through the procedure of buying oil in order to obtain oil for you."

Because of this, the lay supporter became resentful and said:

"The bhikkhunī has no sense of contentment, no sense of enough, no sense of shame. She outwardly claims that she knows the true Dharma. When she needs oil she asks for milk; when she needs milk she asks for oil. What kind of Dharma is that? If you need milk, say you need milk; if you need oil, say you need oil. Whatever you need, simply say so!"

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them those who were of few desires, who knew contentment, who practiced the ascetic observances, who were fond of training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame, reproached the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā, saying: "Why do you ask for oil when you need cream, and ask for cream when you need oil?"

The bhikkhunīs reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha, on account of this matter, assembled the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with proper conduct, not befitting a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not proper behavior—it is something that should not be done. Why do you ask for oil when you need milk, and ask for milk when you need oil?"

The Blessed One, having rebuked the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā by means of countless skillful means, said to the bhikkhus:

"This bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā is a field for the growth of many defiling tendencies, and she is the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'for the long abiding of the true Dharma.'"

The precept should be recited as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, needing one thing, asks for another—nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Needing one thing, asks for another: asking for cream and then asking for oil; asking for oil and then asking for cream. Or asking for any other item in the same manner. When a bhikkhunī wants one thing but asks for another—nissaggiya pācittiya.

This nissaggiya offense must be forfeited to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, or to a group, or to an individual; it may not be forfeited outside the community. If the forfeiture is not properly performed, it is not considered a valid forfeiture, and she commits a dukkaṭa.

When forfeiting, she must go before the Saṅgha, uncover the right shoulder, remove her sandals, bow in reverence at the feet of the Saṅgha, kneel on the right knee, join her palms, and declare:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please hear me. I, the bhikkhunī named …, needing one thing, asked for another. I have committed a nissaggiya offense and now forfeit it to the Saṅgha."

After forfeiting, she should confess the offense. The one who receives the confession must first make a formal announcement before receiving it. The text of the announcement is:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. The bhikkhunī named … asked for one thing and then asked for another, committing a nissaggiya offense, and now forfeits it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to my receiving this bhikkhunī's confession. This is the announcement."

After making the announcement, when receiving her confession, one should say:

"You should reproach your own mind."

The offender replies:

"Yes, I will."

The bhikkhunī Saṅgha should then return the forfeited item to this bhikkhunī immediately, by the formal procedure of a motion with one announcement (ñattidutiiya-kamma), proceeding as follows: The Saṅgha should appoint one capable of performing the kamma, who, based on the above matter, makes the announcement:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. This bhikkhunī named … asked for one thing and then asked for another, committing a nissaggiya offense, and now forfeits it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to returning the forfeited item of this bhikkhunī to the bhikkhunī named … This is the announcement.

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. This bhikkhunī named … asked for one thing and then asked for another, committing a nissaggiya offense, and now forfeits it to the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha returns this forfeited item to the bhikkhunī named … Those venerable sisters who agree to the Saṅgha's returning the forfeited item to the bhikkhunī named … please remain silent. Those who do not agree, please speak.

"The Saṅgha has consented to returning the forfeited item to the bhikkhunī named … The Saṅgha agrees and is therefore silent. This matter is thus recorded."

If the forfeited item is not returned, a dukkaṭa is committed. If, when the item is being returned, someone says "do not return it," that person commits a dukkaṭa. If the item is not returned but is instead transferred as a gift for purification, or assigned to another person, or deliberately damaged, or burned, or rendered unfit for use, or used regularly, all such acts incur a dukkaṭa.

For bhikkhus—dukkaṭa. For śikṣamāṇās, śrāmaṇeras, and śrāmaṇerīs—dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one needs milk and says milk, needs oil and says oil; if one states whatever one needs; or if one makes the request from a relative, or makes the request from one who has gone forth; or if one makes the request on behalf of another, or another makes the request on one's behalf; or if one receives something without having asked—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those without offense: the first offender at the time before the rule was laid down; one who is insane, of disturbed mind, or overcome by pain and distress.

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Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA, PART ONE

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

(Chinese translation, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, fascicles 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002