Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 142Not Inviting

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 142

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Bhagavā was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Sāvatthī. At that time, the bhikkhunīs heard that the Blessed One had laid down a rule permitting bhikkhunīs, upon completion of the summer retreat, to go before the Sangha of bhikkhus and make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. However, these bhikkhunīs did not go before the great Sangha to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding the three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected.

Among the bhikkhunīs who heard of this, there were those of few desires, contentment, who practiced the dhutaṅga qualities, who were fond of training in the precepts, who knew shame and remorse. They reproached the bhikkhunīs: "The Blessed One has laid down a rule permitting bhikkhunīs, upon completion of the summer retreat, to go before the great Sangha and make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. Why have you not gone to make the pavāraṇā invitation?"

The bhikkhunīs then went and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this cause and condition, assembled the Sangha of bhikkhus and reproached the bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accord with proper conduct, not in accord with the Dharma of śramaṇas, not in accord with pure practice, not in accord with proper behavior — you have done what ought not to be done. Bhikkhunīs, upon completion of the summer retreat, must go before the great Sangha and make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. Why have you not gone to make it?"

Having reproached them with numerous means, the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus:

"These bhikkhunīs are a field for sowing many seeds of the āsavas; they are the first to transgress this precept. From this day forward, I shall establish a rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the principle of the long endurance of the true Dharma."

The rule should be proclaimed as follows:

When bhikkhunīs of the Sangha have completed the summer retreat, they must go before the Sangha of bhikkhus and make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. If they do not do so, it is a pācittiya.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

When the Blessed One had already permitted bhikkhunīs, upon completion of the summer retreat, to go before the great Sangha and make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding the three matters — what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected — all the bhikkhunīs went together before the great Sangha to make the invitation, causing a commotion. The Buddha instructed:

1. THE KAMMA OF THE SANGHA APPOINTING ONE TO SEEK THE PAVĀRAṆĀ

"They should not all go in such a manner. From this day forward, it is permitted to appoint one bhikkhunī to go on behalf of the Sangha of bhikkhunīs — who have completed the summer retreat — before the great Sangha to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected, by means of the ñattidutiyakamma. Among the assembly, one who is capable of performing the kamma should be chosen, and the following announcement should be made based on the matter at hand:

"Venerable Sisters of the Sangha, please listen! If it is agreeable to the Sangha and the Sangha consents, the Sangha now appoints the bhikkhunī named … to go on behalf of the Sangha of bhikkhunīs before the great Sangha to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. This is the announcement.

"Venerable Sisters of the Sangha, please listen! The Sangha now appoints the bhikkhunī named … to go on behalf of the Sangha of bhikkhunīs before the great Sangha to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. Any venerable sister who consents to the Sangha appointing the bhikkhunī named … to go on behalf of the Sangha of bhikkhunīs before the great Sangha to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected, should remain silent. Any who does not consent, please speak.

"The Sangha has consented to the appointment of the bhikkhunī named … to go on behalf of the Sangha of bhikkhunīs before the great Sangha to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters. The Sangha consents and is therefore silent. This matter is recorded thus."

2. MAKING THE PAVĀRAṆĀ INVITATION REGARDING THE THREE MATTERS

A bhikkhunī traveling alone without an escort — for the sake of protection, the Buddha instructed that two or three bhikkhunīs should be appointed to accompany her. Upon arriving before the great Sangha, she should respectfully bow at the feet of the Sangha, lower her head, join her palms, and composing herself, make the following announcement:

"The Sangha of bhikkhunīs has completed the summer retreat. The Sangha of bhikkhus has completed the summer retreat. The Sangha of bhikkhunīs wishes to make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding three matters: what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected. May the Venerable Ones, out of compassion, instruct me. If I have seen any offense, I will confess it in accordance with the Dharma." (The second and third times, the same words are spoken.)

3. ESTABLISHING THE DATE OF PAVĀRAṆĀ

The bhikkhunīs performed the pavāraṇā on the same day as the Sangha of bhikkhus, causing hardship for both communities. The Buddha instructed: "The pavāraṇā should not be performed in this way. If the Sangha of bhikkhus performs the pavāraṇā on the fourteenth day, the Sangha of bhikkhunīs should perform it on the fifteenth day.

If the great Sangha is ill, or has become a separate assembly, or the assembly is not in harmony, or there is an insufficient quorum, the bhikkhunīs should send a trusted person to pay respects and make inquiries. If the Sangha of bhikkhunīs is ill, or has become a separate assembly, or the assembly is not in harmony, or there is an insufficient quorum, the bhikkhunīs must also send a trusted person to pay respects and make inquiries. Failure to do so is a duṣkṛta."

For a bhikkhu, it is a duṣkṛta. This is called a transgression.

Non-transgression: When the Sangha of bhikkhunīs has completed the summer retreat and the Sangha of bhikkhus has completed the summer retreat, and the bhikkhunīs make the pavāraṇā invitation regarding the three matters — what was seen, what was heard, and what was suspected — with bhikkhus performing the pavāraṇā on the fourteenth day and bhikkhunīs on the fifteenth day; if the Sangha of bhikkhus is ill, or has become a separate assembly, or the assembly is not in harmony, or there is an insufficient quorum, the bhikkhunīs should send a trusted person to pay respects and make inquiries; if the Sangha of bhikkhunīs is ill, or even if the assembly is insufficient, they must also send a trusted person to pay respects and make inquiries to the Sangha of bhikkhus.

If there are obstacles by road or by water — dangers from thieves, wild animals, flooding — or if one is seized by force, bound and imprisoned, or there is a threat to one's life or a threat to one's pure practice — if in encountering such dangers one does not send a trusted person to make inquiries, there is no transgression.

Those who are not at fault: one who transgresses for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or afflicted with severe pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Publication Division, 2002