Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 128Not Instructing

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 128

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, the bhikkhunī Anyin had taken many disciples, yet did not instruct them. Because they were not instructed, they did not attend to proper deportment, wore their robes untidily, begged for alms improperly, received impure food everywhere, or received food with impure bowls. During the minor meal and the main meal they called out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin assembly.

At that time, other bhikkhunīs, upon seeing this, said:

"Sisters, why do you not attend to proper deportment, why do you wear your robes untidily, beg for alms improperly, receive impure food everywhere, or receive food with impure bowls? During the minor meal and the main meal you call out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin assembly!"

Those bhikkhunīs replied:

"We are disciples of the bhikkhunī Anyin. Our teacher has taken on many disciples but has not given us instruction. Because we have not been instructed, we are as we are!"

Among the bhikkhunīs who heard this, there were those of few desires and contentment, who lived the dhūta practices, were fond of training in the precepts, felt a sense of shame, and reproached the bhikkhunī Anyin: "Why do you take many disciples yet not instruct them? Because you do not instruct them, many things are done contrary to the Dharma."

Having reproached her, the bhikkhunīs went and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha, on account of this cause and condition, assembled the community of bhikkhus and reproached the bhikkhunī Anyin, saying:

"What you have done is wrong—it is not proper deportment, not the conduct of a śramaṇa, not pure practice, not befitting conduct; you have done what ought not to be done. Why did you take many disciples yet not instruct them, so that they do not attend to proper deportment, wear their robes untidily, beg for alms improperly, receive impure food everywhere, or receive food with impure bowls; and during the minor meal and the main meal call out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin assembly?"

Having reproached her with countless skillful means, the Buddha then said to the bhikkhus:

"This bhikkhunī is a place where many seeds of the āsavas are planted; she is the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall set forth a precept for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'so that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The precept should be recited as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī takes many disciples yet, within two years, does not teach them the precepts and does not care for them with two things—pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: meaning as above.

Two things: first, the Dharma; second, robes and food.

—Caring with the Dharma: teaching the higher precepts, higher mind, higher wisdom, learning, and recitation of sūtras.

—Caring with robes and food: providing robes and food, sleeping quarters, bedding, medicine, and supplying necessary requisites according to one's ability.

Whatever bhikkhunī takes many disciples and confers full ordination upon them, yet within two years does not teach them the precepts and does not guide them with two things—pācittiya.

For a bhikkhunī: duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if, having taken disciples, she does teach them the precepts within two years and guides them with two things—namely, the Dharma and robes and food. Or if, after receiving full ordination, they abandon their preceptor and depart; or if they break the precepts, break right view, or break proper deportment; or if they are subject to formal censure, or are expelled, or deserve to be expelled; or if on account of this matter there arises a threat to life or a threat to the brahmacarya life—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those not guilty of an offense: the one who first transgresses before the rule has been established; one who is mentally deranged, of disturbed mind, or in 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, fascicles 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002