Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 135Temperamental to Live With

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 135

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, having heard that the Blessed One had laid down rules permitting ordination, certain bhikkhunīs then gave full ordination to women who were infatuated with men and boys, or who were given to sorrow, easily elated, or easily angered. After receiving full ordination, such a woman, because of her longing thoughts for men, would fall into sorrow, easily fly into anger, and quarrel with the bhikkhunīs.

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the austere qualities, who delighted in training in the precepts, who had a sense of shame and remorse. They reproached those bhikkhunīs: "The Blessed One has laid down rules permitting ordination. Why have you given full ordination to women who are infatuated with men and boys, or who are given to sorrow, easily elated, or easily angered? After receiving full ordination, such a woman, because of her longing thoughts for men, falls into sorrow, easily flies into anger, and quarrels with the bhikkhunīs."

The nuns then reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this incident, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked those bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, improper, not in accordance with the rules of deportment, not in accordance with the Dharma of śramaṇas, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with right behavior; it is something that should not be done. Why have you given full ordination to women who are infatuated with men and boys, or who are given to sorrow, easily elated, or easily angered? After receiving full ordination, such a woman, because of her longing thoughts for men, falls into sorrow, easily flies into anger, and quarrels with the bhikkhunīs."

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

"These bhikkhunīs are a field for planting many seeds of the āsavas; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, 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 precept should be spoken thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī gives ordination into homelessness and full ordination to a woman who is infatuated with men and boys, or who is given to sorrow, or to anger — pācittiya.

The Blessed One thus laid down this rule for the bhikkhunīs. At that time, certain bhikkhunīs did not know whether a woman was or was not infatuated with men and boys, or given to sorrow or anger; only afterwards did they learn that she was infatuated with men and boys. Some performed the pācittiya confession, and some were in doubt. The Buddha instructed:

"If one did not know, there is no offense."

From this day forward, the precept should be spoken thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī, knowing that a woman is infatuated with men and boys, or is given to sorrow or to anger, yet gives her ordination into homelessness and full ordination — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

A woman who is infatuated with men and boys, carrying on a secret liaison with them; who is given to sorrow or to anger; and who, after receiving full ordination, because of her longing thoughts for men, quarrels with bhikkhunīs. If a bhikkhunī knows that a woman is infatuated with men and boys, carrying on a secret liaison with them, and that she is given to sorrow or to anger, yet grants her full ordination: upon the completion of the third karmavācanā, the preceptor bhikkhunī incurs a pācittiya.

Upon the completion of the second karmavācanā, she incurs three duṣkṛtas. Upon the completion of the first karmavācanā, two duṣkṛtas. Upon completion of the motion, one duṣkṛta.

If the motion is not yet complete, a duṣkṛta. Before the motion has been put, if she has already allowed the tonsure, conferred the precepts, or assembled the full congregation, each act incurs a duṣkṛta.

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

Non-offense: if one did not know beforehand; or if one trusted the word of a trustworthy person; or if one trusted the word of her parents; or if the affliction arose only after she had already received full ordination — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: the first to commit the offense before the rule was laid down; one who is mentally deranged, of disturbed mind, or afflicted and overwhelmed with pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA 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, volumes 1 and 2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002