Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 27Out-of-Season Robe Cloth

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

RULE 27

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Sāvatthī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs used out-of-season robe cloth, receiving it as in-season robes.

The bhikkhunīs saw this and said:

"The Blessed One permits bhikkhunīs to keep five robes. Whose robes are these?"

The group of six bhikkhunīs said:

"Those are our in-season robes."

The nuns asked:

"Sisters, is it now the proper season or out of season for robes?"

Those bhikkhunīs who heard this, among whom were some of few wishes, who were content, who practiced the ascetic virtues, who were fond of training in the precepts, and who knew shame and remorse, reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"Why do you use out-of-season robe cloth, receiving it as in-season robes?"

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

"What you have done is unlawful, improper in conduct, not in accordance with the way of a renunciant, not pure practice, not conforming behavior — it is something that ought not to be done. Group of six bhikkhunīs, why do you use out-of-season robe cloth, receiving it as in-season robes?"

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

"The group of six bhikkhunīs is a field that grows many seeds of defilement; they are the first to commit this offense. From this time forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs based on ten principles, up to and including the phrase: that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī uses out-of-season robe cloth as in-season robes — nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

In-season robes: robes received during the proper time — within one month after the end of the Rains Retreat if the kaṭhina has not been received, or within five months if the kaṭhina has been received.

Out-of-season robe cloth: robe cloth obtained and stored outside the period mentioned above.

Robes: there are ten types, as explained above.

If a bhikkhunī uses such out-of-season robe cloth as in-season robes — nissaggiya pācittiya.

This nissaggiya offense must be forfeited to the Sangha, as above. Having forfeited it, she must confess the offense, as above.

The Sangha should return the forfeited robe by means of a motion-and-one-proclamation formal act, also as above. If it is not returned and she receives it as one of the five robes … up to and including the phrase: uses it regularly — all of these constitute a dukkaṭa offense, as above.

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

Non-offense: Using out-of-season robe cloth as out-of-season robe cloth; using in-season robes as in-season robes — these are not offenses.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, of distracted mind, or afflicted with acute pain and compelled by circumstances.

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, volumes 1–2)

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002