Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 109Ending the Robe-Making Season

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 109

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the community of bhikkhunīs was carrying out the kathina withdrawal in accordance with the Dharma. The group of six bhikkhunīs had this thought: "May the Sangha not carry out the kathina withdrawal today, but do so later, so that the five allowances may be extended for a longer period." The bhikkhunīs came to know that the group of six bhikkhunīs had this thought: "May the Sangha not carry out the kathina withdrawal today, but do so later, so that the five allowances may be extended for a longer period."

Among the bhikkhunīs who heard this, there were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who knew shame and remorse. They rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you have this thought — that the Sangha should not carry out the kathina withdrawal today, but do so later, so that the five allowances may be extended for a longer period?"

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

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accord with the conduct of a monastic, not in accord with pure practice, not in accord with proper behavior — it is something that should not be done. Why did you have this thought, that the Sangha should not carry out the kathina withdrawal today, but do so later, so that the five allowances may be extended for a longer period?"

Having rebuked them with numerous means, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"This group of six bhikkhunīs is a breeding ground for many defiled tendencies; they are the first to commit this offense. From this time forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles, up to and including the phrase 'for the long abiding of the true Dharma.'"

The rule should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī has this thought: 'May the Sangha not carry out the kathina withdrawal today, but do so later, so that the five allowances may be extended for a longer period' — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Sangha: as explained above.

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

Whatever bhikkhunī has the thought of obstructing the Sangha's lawful kathina withdrawal, wishing thereby to extend the five allowances for a longer period — pācittiya.

For a bhikkhu: dukkaṭa. For a sikkhāmānā, sāmaṇera, or sāmaṇerī: dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if the withdrawal is untimely; if it is a non-Dharmic act of a divided community, a non-Dharmic act of a united community, a Dharmic act of a divided community, a quasi-Dharmic act of a divided community, a quasi-Dharmic act of a united community, or is contrary to the Dharma, contrary to the Vinaya, contrary to the Buddha's instructions. Or if at the time of the withdrawal there is fear of loss or damage, and one prevents the withdrawal for that reason — there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the very first offense before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or overcome by extreme pain 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 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002