Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 26Relinquishing the bowl

– THE FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NIḤSARGIKA PĀYATTIKA

RULE 26

A. ORIGIN OF THE RULE

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the bhikṣuṇīs, upon the arrival of their monthly period, had their robes and bedding soiled.

The bhikṣuṇīs reported this to the bhikṣus. The bhikṣus reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One permitted them to wear a menstrual garment. If it slipped, he permitted them to make a waistband.

The menstrual flow still leaked from both sides and soiled the robe, so the Buddha further permitted them to sew an inner garment for illness and wear it underneath, with the nirvāṇa-saṃghāṭī worn on the outside.

When visiting the homes of laypeople, if invited to sit, she should say: "I am unwell." If the host says: "Please sit, it is fine," the bhikṣuṇī should lift the nirvāṇa-saṃghāṭī, then use the illness garment to cover herself and sit.

At that time, there was a bhikṣuṇī named Candanasthūlanandā who regularly claimed she had no sensual thoughts, and told all the other bhikṣuṇīs: "Whenever you have your monthly period, come to me and use this garment." The others agreed. Because the bhikṣuṇīs habitually relied on that garment, they did not sew another. Later, the bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā herself had her monthly period. At the same time, another bhikṣuṇī also had her monthly period. The other bhikṣuṇīs sent someone to Candanasthūlanandā saying:

"Previously you promised to lend me the illness garment; I have now come to receive it."

The bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā said:

"I myself am now having my monthly period and cannot give it."

The bhikṣuṇīs reproached her:

"You told me previously that when my monthly period came I should come to you for the illness garment. Trusting that I could borrow it, I did not acquire an illness garment of my own. Now I have sent someone to ask for it — why will you not hand it over?"

The bhikṣuṇīs, hearing of this, among whom were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta virtues, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who knew shame and remorse, reproached the bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā:

"You promised to lend your illness garment to that bhikṣuṇī, so she did not acquire one. Now she has sent someone to fetch it — why will you not give it?"

The bhikṣuṇīs went and reported this to the Saṅgha of bhikṣus. The bhikṣus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the Saṅgha of bhikṣus and rebuked the bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the conduct of a śramaṇa, not in accordance with pure practice, not in accordance with proper behavior — this is something that should not be done. Bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā, you promised to lend that bhikṣuṇī your illness garment, so she did not acquire one. Now she has sent someone to fetch it — why will you not give it?"

Having rebuked the bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā in countless ways, the Buddha said to the bhikṣus:

"This bhikṣuṇī Candanasthūlanandā is a field in which many defiled seeds grow, and she is the first to have transgressed this rule. From this day forward, I shall establish a precept for the bhikṣuṇīs, comprising ten clauses of meaning, up to and including the clause for the long abiding of the true Dharma."

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikṣuṇī promises another bhikṣuṇī an illness garment and then does not give it: niḥsargika pāyattika.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikṣuṇī: The meaning is as explained above.

Illness garment: When the menstrual flow arises, it is worn to protect the body underneath, with the nirvāṇa-saṃghāṭī worn on the outside.

Garment: There are ten types as explained above.

If a bhikṣuṇī promises an illness garment and does not hand it over: niḥsargika pāyattika. If she promises garments other than the illness garment and does not give them, she incurs a duṣkṛta. If she promises articles other than garments and does not give them, she incurs a duṣkṛta in all cases.

If a bhikṣuṇī has promised an illness garment to a bhikṣuṇī and then does not give it: niḥsargika pāyattika.

This niḥsargika must be relinquished before the Saṅgha, as explained above. After relinquishing it, she must confess the offense, also as explained above. The Saṅgha should return the relinquished article to her immediately, as before. If it is not returned, receiving it as one of the five robes, down to and including the clause concerning regular use — all such cases incur a duṣkṛta.

A bhikṣu(?): duṣkṛta. A śikṣamāṇā, śrāmaṇera, śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. This is called transgression.

Non-transgression: Promising the illness garment and then giving it. If there is no illness garment; or if the illness garment is being sewn, washed, dyed, beaten, or has been stored in a safe place and cannot be found: no transgression.

Or if that bhikṣuṇī has broken the precepts, broken her views, broken her proper conduct; or if she has been subjected to a formal charge, or has been expelled, or is deserving of expulsion; or if, on account of this circumstance, there would arise a danger to her life or a danger to her pure practice — if for these reasons she promised the illness garment but did not give it: no transgression.

Those who do not transgress: One who transgresses for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is deranged, mentally disturbed, or oppressed by acute suffering.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikṣu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002.