Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 111Legal Issues

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

Rule 111

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, some bhikkhunīs were engaged in a dispute and came to the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā, saying: "Please, on my behalf, resolve this dispute." The bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā was a person of intelligence and wisdom, one capable of bringing to an end quarrels that arose. But in the end she made no effort to extinguish this dispute. The other bhikkhunī, because this dispute was not reconciled, became sorrowful and distressed, and abandoned the training.

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the dhūta qualities, who were fond of training in the precepts, who had a sense of shame, and they reproached Sthūlanandā, saying: "A bhikkhunī was requested to resolve a dispute—why did she in the end make no effort to extinguish this dispute, causing that bhikkhunī, because the dispute was not reconciled, to abandon the training?"

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 circumstance, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked Sthūlanandā:

"What you have done is wrong, unbefitting conduct, not in accordance with the ways of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not proper behavior—this is something that should not be done. Why did you not reconcile the dispute for that bhikkhunī, causing her to abandon the training?"

After the Blessed One had rebuked her with numerous expedient means, he said to the bhikkhus:

"The bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā is a fertile ground for the planting of many defiled seeds, and is the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs comprising ten principles, up to and including the phrase 'for the long abiding of the true Dharma.'"

The precept should be recited as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, having been requested by another bhikkhunī with the words, 'Please, on my behalf, extinguish this dispute,' makes no effort to extinguish it—pācittiya.

B. THE ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Dispute: there are four kinds, as explained previously.

If that bhikkhunī says to other bhikkhunīs, "Please, on my behalf, extinguish this dispute," and that bhikkhunī makes no effort to extinguish the dispute—pācittiya. Apart from formal disputes, if there are other minor quarrels and she makes no effort to extinguish them—duṣkṛta. If she herself is party to a dispute and makes no effort to find a means of resolving it—duṣkṛta.

Apart from bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, if others have a dispute and she makes no effort to create the means to resolve it—duṣkṛta.

For a bhikkhu—duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī—duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if she brings it to an end; or if she creates the means on their behalf; or if she is ill; or if she is unable to speak; or if the other party has broken the precepts, broken right view, or broken proper conduct; or if they have been formally charged, expelled, or are deserving of expulsion; or if pursuing the matter would lead to a threat to her life or a threat to her celibate life—in such cases, not seeking to bring it to an end is not an offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: the first offender at the time before the rule was laid down; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or overwhelmed by severe pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee 2002