Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 113Serving Householders

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 113

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time the group of six bhikkhunīs undertook household work—milling grain, pounding rice, cooking food, roasting unhusked grain, preparing meals; or spreading beds, seats, and sleeping mats; or sweeping the ground, drawing water, and accepting orders from laypeople. When the householders saw this, they sneered and laughed, saying: "Just like my own wife managing the household—milling grain, pounding rice, cooking food, and so on, down to accepting orders from others. How are these six bhikkhunīs any different?" And so the householders gave rise to contempt and showed no reverence.

The bhikkhunīs heard of this. Among them were those of few desires, who knew contentment, practiced the ascetic qualities, delighted in training in the precepts, and felt a sense of shame; they reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs, saying: "Why do you undertake household work—milling grain, pounding rice, and so on, down to accepting orders from others—being no different from worldly people in this way?"

The bhikkhunīs went and reported this to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, unbefitting of proper conduct, unbefitting of the way of a samaṇa, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with harmonious practice—you have done what should not be done. Why do you undertake household work—milling grain, pounding rice, and so on, down to accepting orders from others—being no different from worldly people?"

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

"These bhikkhunīs are fields in which many seeds of the āsavas are planted; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs consisting of ten meaningful clauses, for the purpose of the long abiding of the true Dharma."

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī acts as a servant-for-hire for a white-robed layperson—pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Acts as a servant-for-hire for a white-robed layperson: that is, as above—milling grain, pounding rice, and so on, down to accepting orders from others. A bhikkhunī who engages in household affairs—milling grain, pounding rice, and so on, down to acting as a messenger on another's behalf—all such acts: pācittiya.

A bhikkhu: the offense is determined in accordance with the act committed. A sikkhāmānā, sāmaṇera, or sāmaṇerī: dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one's father or mother is ill or is bound in confinement, and one spreads the bed or sleeping mat, sweeps the ground, draws water, supplies necessary articles, and complies with their instructions; or if a faithful upāsikā is ill or is bound in confinement, and one spreads the bed or sleeping mat, sweeps the ground, draws water, and renders assistance to her; or if one is compelled by force—none of these constitute an offense.

Those who do not offend: the first offender before the rule was promulgated; one who is insane; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted with acute pain and overwhelmed by it.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đổng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA 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, fascicles 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002