Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 108Blocking Robe Distribution

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 108

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the land of Śrāvastī. At that time, the community of bhikkhunīs had received robes offered as proper donations and wished to distribute them. Sthūlanandā had many disciples and was away at the time. Sthūlanandā harbored the thought of obstructing the lawful distribution of robes, fearing that her disciples would not receive their share.

The bhikkhunīs became aware of her intention. Among those bhikkhunīs who knew, there were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the austere dhūta qualities, were fond of training in the precepts, and possessed a sense of shame and remorse. They reproached Sthūlanandā: "Why did you harbor the thought of obstructing the Saṅgha's lawful distribution of robes, merely because you feared your disciples would not receive their share?"

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, assembled the community of bhikkhus and rebuked Sthūlanandā:

"You have done what is wrong, what is not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the ways of a śramaṇa, not in accordance with pure practice, not in accordance with proper behavior — you have done what should not be done. Why did you harbor the thought of obstructing the Saṅgha's lawful distribution of robes, merely because you feared your disciples would not receive their share?"

The Blessed One, having rebuked Sthūlanandā by means of countless skillful methods, then addressed the bhikkhus:

"This bhikkhunī is a field in which many seeds of the āsavas are planted; she is the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs consisting of ten clauses, up to and including the clause on the long endurance of the true Dharma."

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, thinking, 'The Saṅgha is distributing robes in a lawful manner,' then obstructs the distribution, merely because she fears her disciples will not receive their share — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Saṅgha: as previously explained.

Lawful: in accordance with the Dharma, in accordance with the Vinaya, in accordance with the Buddha's teaching.

Robes: there are ten kinds, as stated above.

Whatever bhikkhunī harbors the thought of obstructing the Saṅgha's lawful distribution of robes, because she fears her disciples will not receive their share — pācittiya.

For a bhikkhu, duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī, duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if the distribution takes place at an improper time; if it is carried out as an unlawful separate act, as an unlawful joint act, as a lawful separate act, as a quasi-lawful separate act, as a quasi-lawful joint act; or if it is not in accordance with the Dharma, not in accordance with the Vinaya, not in accordance with the Buddha's teaching. If, at the time of distribution, one obstructs out of fear that the robes will be lost or damaged, there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the act for the first time before the precept has been promulgated; one who is insane, one whose mind is disturbed, one who is afflicted with pain and overwhelmed by suffering.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002