Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 153Getting Trainees to Massage

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 153

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavān was dwelling in the park of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs ordered sikkhamānās to rub and massage their bodies. Householders who saw this were filled with contempt: "These bhikkhunīs have no sense of shame or remorse; they commit impure conduct. Outwardly they declare, 'I know the true Dharma.' But what Dharma is there in this? They order sikkhamānās to rub and massage their bodies, no different from prostitutes and wanton women!"

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the dhūta qualities, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who knew shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you order sikkhamānās to rub and massage your bodies?"

The bhikkhunīs then 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, convened the assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong. It is not proper conduct, not the practice of a renunciant, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior — it is something that should not be done. Why do you order sikkhamānās to rub and massage your bodies?"

Having rebuked them with numerous 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 set forth a precept for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten points of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'so that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī orders a sikkhamānā to rub and massage her body, it is a pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Whatever bhikkhunī orders a sikkhamānā to rub and massage her body, it is a pācittiya.

For a bhikkhu, a dukkaṭa. For a sikkhamānā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerikā, a dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one is afflicted with some illness, or if one is compelled by force, there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who offends for the first time before the precept has been established; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or in extreme 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.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002