Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 117Learning Pointless Knowledge

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 117

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a group of six bhikkhunīs recited various kinds of miscellaneous spells and incantations, such as spells of detailed conjuration, Kṣatriya spells, spells for spirits, and spells for auspicious and inauspicious signs; or they studied methods of divination by spinning a deer-wheel; or they studied in order to understand the meaning of sounds.

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them were those of few wishes and contentment, who practiced the ascetic rules, delighted in training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you study and recite various kinds of spells, such as spells of detailed conjuration, and so forth up to discerning the meaning of sounds?"

Having reproached them, the bhikkhunīs went and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha used this occasion to assemble the community of bhikkhus and reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the conduct of a monastic, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with proper behavior—it is something that should not be done. Why do you study and recite various kinds of spells and incantations, up to and including the understanding of sounds?" Having reproached them, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"These bhikkhunīs are a field in which many seeds of the āsavas are planted, and they are the first to transgress this precept. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the phrase: 'for the long endurance of the true Dharma.'"

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī studies and recites worldly spells and incantations, it is a pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Worldly spells and incantations: such as spells of detailed conjuration, up to and including the inquiry into and interpretation of sounds…

Whatever bhikkhunī studies and recites worldly spells and incantations, up to and including sounds—whether received orally or committed to written text for recitation—if spoken distinctly, it is a pācittiya. If spoken indistinctly, it is a duṣkṛta.

For a bhikkhu, it is a duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī, it is a duṣkṛta. These are called transgressions.

Non-offense: reciting a spell to treat intestinal parasites; or reciting a spell to treat indigestion from eating at night; or studying texts; or reciting worldly spells to subdue those of other views; or reciting a spell to treat poisoning; or using spells for self-protection—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who transgresses for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is mentally deranged, whose mind is disturbed, or who is afflicted and oppressed by pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and竺佛念 (Zhu Fo-nian).

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002