Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 24Collecting Bowls

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

RULE 24

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs kept bowls of fine color and appearance, while setting aside the old ones. They accumulated many bowls without washing or mending them. The number of bowls stored in this way was very great. Laypeople who came to visit the monastery saw this and reproached them, saying: "These bhikkhunīs receive things without knowing satisfaction. They claim to know the true Dharma, yet where is the true Dharma in this? They accumulate many bowls, use the ones of fine appearance, and leave the old ones scattered on the ground — like a pottery shop."

The bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them those who were of few desires and contentment, who lived the ascetic practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who knew shame, rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you store up so many bowls, using the fine ones while leaving the old ones unwashed and unrepaired, scattered on the ground?"

The bhikkhunīs then went and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One used this occasion to assemble the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the deportment of monastics, not in accordance with the Dharma of renunciants, not pure conduct, not proper behavior — you have done what ought not to be done. Group of six bhikkhunīs, why do you keep bowls of fine and new appearance while leaving the old ones unwashed, unmended, and scattered on the ground?"

After rebuking the group of six bhikkhunīs with countless skillful means, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

"The group of six bhikkhunīs is a field where many seeds of the āsavas grow; they are the first to transgress this precept. From this day forward, I shall lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, for ten reasons, up to and including the phrase 'for the long endurance of the true Dharma.'"

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī keeps an extra bowl — nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhunī: as defined above.

On whatever day a bhikkhunī receives a bowl, on that very day she should keep one bowl and should transfer ownership of the rest, or assign them to another person. If a bhikkhunī keeps an extra bowl — nissaggiya pācittiya.

This nissaggiya offense requires forfeiture to the Sangha. The procedure for forfeiture, the procedure for confession, and the procedure after forfeiture are as stated above.

The Sangha should return the forfeited bowl by a formal act of two announcements (ñattidutiya-kamma), as stated above. If the bowl is not returned (…) up to and including the phrase: using it as if it were not a proper bowl — all such cases constitute a dukkaṭa offense, as stated above.

For a bhikkhu — dukkaṭa. For a sikkhāmānā, sāmaṇera, or sāmaṇerī — dukkaṭa. These are called transgressions.

Non-transgression: If on the day of receiving a bowl one immediately keeps one bowl and transfers ownership of the rest; or assigns them to another person; or if one thinks the bowl has been stolen, thinks it has been lost, thinks it has been broken, or thinks it has been carried away by water and therefore does not transfer ownership or assign it to another person — there is no transgression.

If the bowl is stolen, lost, broken, or carried away by water; or if one uses it oneself; or if another person gives it for use — there is no transgression. Or if the person with whom the bowl was entrusted passes away, goes far away, gives up the training, is carried off by bandits, encounters a wild animal, or is swept away by water, and one has not transferred ownership or assigned the bowl to another person — there is no transgression.

Those who do not transgress: one who commits an offense for the first time before the precept has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or overcome and oppressed by severe pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002