Lzh Dg Bi Vb Np 29Heavy Cloaks

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

RULE 29

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Gabled Hall on the banks of the Mahāvana river at Vesālī. At that time, a Licchavi of Vesālī had occasion to receive goods from a certain lay disciple. There was a bhikkhunī named Kālā who regularly visited the home of this lay disciple, regarding him as a patron.

The Licchavi said to Kālā:

"Venerable Sister, I would like to call upon you for assistance in a matter concerning some goods."

Kālā said:

"It can be done."

Then she helped him accomplish the matter. The Licchavi, having obtained the goods, was pleased and asked:

"What does the Venerable Sister need? Please let me know."

Kālā said:

"That is already an offering to me; it is enough."

The Licchavi asked again:

"Whatever the Venerable Sister needs, please do say."

Kālā said:

"Never mind. Even if I were in need of something, you would not be able to provide it."

The lay disciple said again:

"Please tell me what you need; I will offer it."

The bhikkhunī Kālā then pointed to a robe worth one thousand lengths of fine cloth and said:

"I need a robe like that one."

At that point, the lay disciples among themselves began to criticize: "This bhikkhunī receives without knowing satisfaction. Outwardly she claims to know the true Dharma. Yet where is the true Dharma in this? How can she demand a robe worth one thousand lengths of fine cloth? Even if a donor is willing to give, one ought to know what is sufficient."

The lay disciple then presented the robe to Kālā, and said:

"If I had handled the matter myself just now, I would not have had to part with this robe!"

At that time, another bhikkhunī named Bhaddā Kāpilānī also went to the home of a relative and sat down in the seat offered. The lay disciples asked:

"What does the Venerable Sister need?"

The bhikkhunī said:

"That is already an offering to me; it is enough."

The lay disciple said again:

"Whatever you need, please do say."

The bhikkhunī said:

"Never mind. Even if I were in need of something, you would not be able to provide it."

The lay disciple said:

"I will give it; I would not refuse. But please just tell me what you want."

At that, the bhikkhunī pointed to a robe worth one thousand lengths of fine cloth and said: "I need that robe."

At that point, the lay disciples among themselves began to criticize: "This bhikkhunī receives without knowing satisfaction. Outwardly she claims to know the true Dharma. Yet where is the true Dharma in this? How can she demand a robe worth one thousand lengths of fine cloth? Even if a donor is willing to give, one ought to know what is sufficient."

After presenting the robe, the lay disciple said:

"What use does a bhikkhunī have for such a costly robe?"

At that time the bhikkhunīs heard of these matters, and among them those of few desires, contentment, and the practice of the dhūta training, who delighted in learning the precepts and knew shame and remorse, reproached the bhikkhunī Bhaddā Kāpilānī: "How could you go to a lay disciple's home and demand a robe worth one thousand lengths of fine cloth?"

The bhikkhunīs went and 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 an assembly of the bhikkhu Saṅgha and rebuked the bhikkhunīs Kālā and Bhaddā Kāpilānī:

"What you have done is wrong; it is not proper conduct, not the way of a samaṇa, not pure practice, not fitting behavior — it is something that should not be done. How could you go to a lay disciple's home and demand a robe worth one thousand lengths of fine cloth?"

After rebuking them with countless skillful means, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

"These two bhikkhunīs, Kālā and Bhaddā Kāpilānī, are grounds for the planting of many seeds of the defiled āsavas, and they are the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a training rule for the bhikkhunīs, for ten purposes, up to the purpose that the true Dharma may long endure." The rule to be recited is as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī requests a heavy robe, at most equal in value to four lengths of fine cloth; if she obtains one in excess of this, it is nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Heavy robe (thick robe): a robe for protection against cold.

Robe: there are ten kinds, as explained above.

When a bhikkhunī seeks a heavy robe, at most sixteen conditions apply. If a bhikkhunī seeks a heavy robe worth more than four lengths of fine cloth, it is nissaggiya pācittiya.

This nissaggiya offense requires forfeiture to the Saṅgha, as explained above. After forfeiting the robe, she must confess the offense, also as explained above.

The Saṅgha must return the robe to that bhikkhunī by the formal act of a single proclamation and single resolution (ñattidutyakamma), as explained above. If the Saṅgha does not return it, or if it is received as one of the five robes, or used on a regular basis, all such acts constitute a dukkaṭa offense, as explained above.

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

Non-offense: requesting a robe of four lengths of fine cloth or less; or requesting it from one who has gone forth; or another requesting on one's behalf, or one requesting on another's behalf; or receiving it without having asked — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been promulgated; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or in agony and distress.

---

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: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publishing Committee, 2002