Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 151What is Scented

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 151

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was residing in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs applied sesame-seed residue to their bodies. When householders saw this, they all criticized them: "These bhikkhunīs have no sense of shame or remorse; they commit impure conduct. Outwardly they claim, 'We know the true Dharma.' But what kind of Dharma is this? Rubbing sesame-seed residue on their bodies—just like thieves' women or harlots!"

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them those who were of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta qualities, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame and remorse, reproved the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you apply sesame-seed residue to your bodies?"

The bhikkhunīs informed the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported the matter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this cause and condition, convened the assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong, unbefitting, not in accord with the deportment of monastics, not in accord with the Dharma of renunciants, not in accord with pure conduct, not in accord with proper behavior—this is something that should not be done. Why, bhikkhunīs, do you apply sesame-seed residue to your bodies?"

Having rebuked them with countless skillful words, the Buddha addressed 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 establish the precept for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten clauses 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 applies sesame-seed residue to her body by rubbing—pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as defined above.

Whatever bhikkhunī applies sesame-seed oil residue by rubbing it on her body—pācittiya.

For a bhikkhu—duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī—duṣkṛta. These constitute the offense.

Non-offense: if there is some illness; or if one is compelled by force. In all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the act for the first time before the precept has been established; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or overcome by extreme pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka master 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