Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 129Not Following Mentor

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 129

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at Sāvatthī. At that time, a certain bhikkhunī had ordained many disciples. After being ordained, they left their preceptress and went away, and so they did not receive any instruction. They did not understand proper deportment, they wore their robes untidily, they went on alms-round in an improper manner, they accepted impure food everywhere, or they accepted food with an impure bowl. At the time of the minor meal and the main meal, they made loud clamor, like the manner of a brahmin assembly.

The bhikkhunīs saw this and asked:

"Sisters, why do you not understand proper deportment, wearing your robes untidily, going on alms-round in an improper manner, accepting impure food everywhere, or accepting food with an impure bowl? At the time of the minor meal and the main meal, you make loud clamor, like the manner of a brahmin assembly?"

Those bhikkhunīs replied:

"After we received the full ordination, we left our preceptress and went away, and since we did not receive instruction, we are as you say!"

The bhikkhunīs who heard this, among whom were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic disciplines, who delighted in learning the rules, and who had a sense of shame, reproached those bhikkhunīs:

"Why, after receiving the full ordination, did you sisters leave your preceptress and go away, so that you did not receive instruction, do not understand proper deportment, wear your robes untidily, go on alms-round in an improper manner, accept impure food everywhere, or accept food with an impure bowl? At the time of the minor meal and the main meal you make loud clamor, like the manner of a brahmin assembly?"

After the bhikkhunīs had reproached them, they went and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus then went and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha, on account of this matter, assembled the community of bhikkhus and reproached those bhikkhunīs:

"You have done what is wrong, what is not in accordance with proper deportment, not in accordance with the conduct of a samaṇa, not in accordance with pure practice, not in accordance with proper behavior — you have done what should not be done. Why, after receiving the full ordination, did you abandon your preceptress and go away, so that you did not receive instruction, did not understand proper deportment, wore your robes untidily, went on alms-round in an improper manner, accepted impure food everywhere, or accepted food with an impure bowl? At the time of the minor meal and the main meal you made loud clamor, like the manner of a brahmin assembly?" After reproaching them with countless expedient means, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"These bhikkhunīs are a field that cultivates many defiled seeds; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles, up to and including the principle that the true Dharma may long endure."

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī does not follow her preceptress bhikkhunī for two years — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

A bhikkhunī who does not follow her preceptress bhikkhunī for two years — pācittiya.

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

Non-offense: after receiving the full ordination, if she follows her preceptress bhikkhunī for two years; or if the preceptress gives permission for her to go, then she may go; or if the preceptress has broken the precepts, broken right view, or broken proper deportment; or if she has been formally charged, expelled, or is worthy of expulsion; or if, on account of such a matter, there arises a threat to her life or a threat to her chastity, such that she must be separated for those two years — in all these cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the first offense before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or afflicted with severe pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Studies Publication Committee, 2002.