Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 25Beautiful Vessels

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

RULE 25

A. ORIGIN OF THE RULE

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs accumulated many utensils of fine color and appearance, while the inferior ones were discarded carelessly on the ground without repair, without washing, and without arrangement.

At that time, a number of laypeople came to visit the monastery and, upon seeing this, reproached them, saying: "These six bhikkhunīs receive without knowing satisfaction, without knowing shame. Outwardly they claim to know the true Dharma. What Dharma is there in this? They accumulate many utensils and discard them carelessly on the ground like a pottery shop."

The bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them those who were of few desires, who knew contentment, who practiced the dhūta qualities, who were fond of training in the precepts, and who possessed a sense of shame and remorse, rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you accumulate many utensils and discard them carelessly on the ground?"

The bhikkhunīs went and reported this to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the bhikkhu Sangha and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper deportment, not in accordance with the practice of śramaṇas, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with harmonious behavior — you have done what should not be done. Group of six bhikkhunīs, why do you accumulate many utensils and discard them carelessly on the ground?"

Having rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs with countless means of instruction, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

"This group of six bhikkhunīs is a ground that produces many seeds of the āsravas; they are the first to commit this offense. From this time forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs, consisting of ten clauses of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The rule should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī accumulates many utensils of fine color and appearance — nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: the meaning is as stated above.

Whatever day a bhikkhunī receives a utensil, on that same day she should take it into keeping, counting it among the sixteen categories of requisites. Beyond these, she should perform the act of relinquishment or assign them to another. The sixteen categories are: a large steamer, its lid, a large bowl, a large spoon, a small jar, its lid, a small bowl, a spoon, a drinking-water vessel, its lid, a large bowl for holding drinking water, a small spoon, a vessel for holding washing water, its lid, a water-drinking bowl, and a drinking cup. Whatever bhikkhunī accumulates many utensils — nissaggiya pācittiya.

This nissaggiya must be relinquished before the Sangha, as stated before. After relinquishment, she must confess the offense. The method of confession is also as stated before.

The Sangha must return the relinquished article by the procedure of a motion with one announcement (ñattidutiykamma), as stated above. If the Sangha does not return it, or if it is used habitually — all such cases entail a dukkaṭa offense, as stated above.

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

Non-offense: on the day a utensil is received, if it is taken into keeping and counted among the sixteen categories of requisites as stated above, and the remainder is relinquished or assigned to another; or if one perceives it as having been stolen, as having been lost, as having been broken, or as having been washed away, and on account of this does not perform the act of relinquishment and does not assign it to another — in all such cases there is no offense.

If the utensil was stolen, lost, broken, or carried away by water; or if it is needed for use; or if another person grants permission to use it; or if the bhikkhunī who deposited the utensil has passed away, or has left the training, or has gone far away, or has been taken captive by bandits, or has encountered the danger of wild beasts or flood and therefore could not perform the act of relinquishment or assign it to another — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who are not at fault: one who commits an offense for the first time before the rule has been promulgated; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or afflicted and overwhelmed by 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, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, fascicles 1 and 2)

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002