Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 138Every Year

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 138

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, the bhikkhunī Anin had many disciples, and having conferred full ordination upon them, she was unable to instruct them thoroughly. Because they had not been properly instructed, they did not understand proper deportment, wore their robes untidily, did not beg for alms in accordance with the Dharma, accepted impure food everywhere, or accepted impure food in the bowl. At meal times—both light meals and full meals—they cried out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin assembly.

The bhikkhunīs, having heard this, asked:

"Why do you not understand proper deportment, wear your robes untidily, beg for alms not in accordance with the Dharma, accept impure food everywhere, or accept impure food in the bowl? At meal times—both light meals and full meals—you cry out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin gathering?"

The disciples replied:

"We are the disciples of the bhikkhunī Anin. Our teacher did not instruct us, and so we do not know!"

The bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta qualities, delighted in training in the precepts, and knew shame and remorse. They reproached the bhikkhunī Anin: "You have ordained many disciples but are unable to instruct them all thoroughly. Because they have not been properly instructed, they do not understand proper deportment, wear their robes untidily, beg for alms not in accordance with the Dharma, accept impure food everywhere, or accept impure food in the bowl. At meal times—both light meals and full meals—they cry out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin assembly."

The bhikkhunīs reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this cause and condition, assembled the community of bhikkhus and reproached the bhikkhunī Anin, saying:

"You have acted wrongly; this is not proper deportment, not the conduct of a samaṇa, not pure practice, not befitting behavior—this is something that should not be done. You have ordained many disciples but are unable to instruct them all thoroughly. Because they have not been properly instructed, they do not understand proper deportment, wear their robes untidily, beg for alms not in accordance with the Dharma, accept impure food everywhere, or accept impure food in the bowl. At meal times—both light meals and full meals—they cry out loudly, like the manner of a brahmin assembly."

Having reproached her by means of countless expedient teachings, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"This bhikkhunī is a field that cultivates many seeds of the āsavas, and she is among the first to commit this offense. 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, before the completion of twelve months, confers full ordination upon another—pācittiya.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as defined above.

A bhikkhunī who has completed twelve months may confer full ordination upon another; having completed twelve months, she may assign a preceptor to another; having completed twelve months, she may confer the śikṣamāṇā precepts and the two-year training in the rules; having completed twelve months, she may ordain a śrāmaṇerikā. Whatever bhikkhunī, before the completion of twelve months, confers full ordination upon another—pācittiya; before the completion of twelve months, she assigns a preceptor to another, ordains a śikṣamāṇā, or a śrāmaṇerikā—duṣkṛta.

A bhikkhu—duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: having completed twelve months, she confers full ordination upon another; having completed twelve months, she assigns a preceptor to another, confers the śikṣamāṇā precepts, and the two-year training in the rules. Ordaining a śrāmaṇerikā—there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been promulgated; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or in extreme pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002