Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 20Exchanging Saṅgha Property

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

RULE 20

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Sāvatthī. At that time, a large number of bhikkhunīs were reciting the Pātimokkha in an open field, and a householder who saw them asked:

"Venerable sisters, why are you reciting the Pātimokkha in an open field? Is there no Pātimokkha hall?"

The bhikkhunīs replied:

"There is none."

The householder said:

"If supplies were provided, could a Pātimokkha hall be built?"

The bhikkhunīs said:

"It could."

The householder then provided materials to build a Pātimokkha hall.

At that time, the bhikkhunīs conceived the thought: "When the time for reciting the Pātimokkha comes, we can find a place to sit and recite it. But robes are difficult to come by in full — the complete set of five robes. It would be better for us to exchange these materials for robes and distribute them among ourselves." They then exchanged the materials for robes and distributed them among themselves.

Afterward, the bhikkhunīs were still reciting the Pātimokkha in an open field. The householder saw them and asked:

"Why are you still reciting the Pātimokkha in an open field? Is there no Pātimokkha hall?"

The bhikkhunīs said:

"There is none."

The householder asked:

"I already donated materials previously to build a Pātimokkha hall. What did you do with them?"

The bhikkhunīs said:

"We thought that when the time for reciting the Pātimokkha comes, we can find a place to sit and recite it. As for robes, it is difficult to have a full set of five robes, so we exchanged the materials for robes. We exchanged the materials for robes and distributed them among ourselves."

The householder reproached them, saying:

"These bhikkhunīs have no sense of shame, they receive without being sated. Outwardly they claim to know the true Dharma. What kind of true Dharma is this? They took the materials I donated to build a Pātimokkha hall and exchanged them for robes to distribute among themselves — as if I do not know that robes are difficult to come by in full. The Buddha has taught that the foremost field of merit is the construction of dwelling-places to be offered to the Saṅgha of the four directions!"

The bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them were those of few desires, who were content, who practised the ascetic disciplines, who delighted in the training, and who had a sense of shame. They reproached those bhikkhunīs: "Why, when a householder donated materials to build a Pātimokkha hall, did you exchange them for robes and distribute them among yourselves?"

The bhikkhunīs reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked those bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the practice of a samaṇa, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with harmonious conduct — you have done what ought not to be done. How could it be, bhikkhunīs, that when a householder donated materials to build a Pātimokkha hall, you exchanged them for robes and distributed them among yourselves?"

The Blessed One rebuked those bhikkhunīs by numerous means and then said to the bhikkhus:

"These bhikkhunīs are fields that nurture many defiled seeds — they are the first to commit this offence. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles, up to the phrase 'for the long endurance of the true Dharma.'"

The rule should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, knowing that a donor has given an offering to the Saṅgha for one purpose, uses it for another purpose — nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Using what has been given to the Saṅgha for a different purpose: materials given to build a Pātimokkha hall are used instead to make robes; materials given to make robes are used instead to build a Pātimokkha hall; an offering made for one thing is used for another.

Property of the Saṅgha, property for the Saṅgha, property belonging to the Saṅgha:

— Property of the Saṅgha: property that has already been promised to the Saṅgha.

— Property for the Saṅgha: property being prepared for the Saṅgha's benefit but not yet promised to the Saṅgha.

— Property belonging to the Saṅgha: property that has been promised to the Saṅgha and relinquished to the Saṅgha.

If a bhikkhunī knows that a donor has given an offering to the Saṅgha for one purpose and uses it for another purpose — nissaggiya pācittiya.

This nissaggiya item must be relinquished to the Saṅgha, or to a group, or to an individual; it may not be relinquished to a partial assembly. If the relinquishment is not properly carried out, it does not constitute a valid relinquishment, and the offence is a dukkaṭa.

When relinquishing to the Saṅgha, the person concerned must go before the Saṅgha, uncover the right shoulder, remove her sandals, bow with her head to the feet of the senior elder, place the right knee on the ground, join her palms, and say:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen! I, bhikkhunī named …, have used an offering given to the Saṅgha for one purpose for a different purpose; having committed an offence of relinquishment, I now relinquish it to the Saṅgha."

After relinquishing, she must confess the offence. The one who receives the confession must first make a formal announcement and then receive it. The text of the announcement is as follows:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen! This bhikkhunī named … used an offering given to the Saṅgha for one purpose for a different purpose; having committed an offence of relinquishment, she now relinquishes it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents, and I now receive the confession of the bhikkhunī named …. This is the announcement."

Having made this announcement, she then receives the confession. When receiving the confession, she should say to the other:

"Reflect carefully upon your own mind."

The other replies:

"So be it."

The Saṅgha should then return the robe to this bhikkhunī immediately by means of the formal act with one announcement and one motion (ñattidutiyo kammavācā), as follows. The Saṅgha should appoint one who is capable of performing the act of formal motion; she makes the announcement in accordance with the matter:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen! This bhikkhunī named … has used an offering given to the Saṅgha for one purpose for a different purpose; having committed an offence of relinquishment, she has now relinquished it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents, and the robe shall be returned to this bhikkhunī named …. This is the announcement.

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen! This bhikkhunī named … has used an offering given to the Saṅgha for one purpose for a different purpose; having committed an offence of relinquishment, she has now relinquished it to the Saṅgha. Those venerable sisters who consent to the Saṅgha's returning the robe to this bhikkhunī named … should remain silent. Those who do not consent should speak.

"The Saṅgha has consented to returning the robe to this bhikkhunī named …. The Saṅgha consents and therefore is silent. This matter is so recorded."

Once the robe has been relinquished before the Saṅgha, if the Saṅgha fails to return it, the offence is a dukkaṭa. If, at the time of returning it, someone says "Do not return it!" — that person commits a dukkaṭa. If someone receives it to make into one of the five robes, or converts it through a trust arrangement, or uses it for another purpose, or gives it to someone, or intentionally damages it, or burns it, or renders it unfit as a robe, or wears it regularly — all of these are dukkaṭa offences.

For a bhikkhu: dukkaṭa. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī: dukkaṭa. These are called offences.

Non-offence: if one asks the owner and then uses it; if one uses it in accordance with the allocation; or if at the time of the donation the donor says, "Use it as you see fit" — in all such cases there is no offence.

Those who do not offend: one who commits the act for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or in severe pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002