Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 158Sunshades and Sandals

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 158

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs put on leather sandals, took up parasols, and traveled along the road. The laypeople who saw this all reproached them: "These bhikkhunīs have no sense of shame or remorse; they engage in impure conduct. Outwardly they claim to know the true Dharma. But what kind of true Dharma is this? Wearing leather sandals and carrying parasols while walking the roads — just like women of ill repute or female thieves!"

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them those who were of few desires, content, who practiced the ascetic way, were fond of training in the precepts, and had a sense of shame and remorse, reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you wear leather sandals and carry parasols while walking along the road?"

The bhikkhunīs then reported this to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior; it is an action that should not be done. Why do you wear leather sandals and carry parasols while walking along the road?"

Having reproached them with innumerable skillful means, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"These bhikkhunīs are a field that gives rise to many defiled seeds; they are the first to have transgressed this precept. From this day forward, I shall lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to the phrase 'for the long abiding of the true Dharma.'"

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī wears leather sandals and carries a parasol while traveling along the road — pācittiya.

The Blessed One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs in this way. At that time, there were bhikkhunīs going to the place of the minor meal or the main meal, or assembling at night, or during the recitation of the precepts. Along the road they encountered rain that soaked through and damaged their newly dyed robes. The Buddha instructed:

"From this day forward, for the protection of the body, the robes, and the bedding, it is permitted to make parasols of bark, of leaves, or of bamboo for use within the monastery."

At that time, there were bhikkhunīs who encountered rain and walked barefoot, and their feet were soiled with mud, their robes were soiled, and their sitting mats were soiled. The Buddha instructed:

"From this day forward, for the protection of the body, the robes, and the sitting mats, it is permitted to make wooden clogs to be worn within the monastery."

Although the bhikkhunīs made wooden clogs to wear, their robes were still soiled, their feet were still soiled, and their sitting mats were still soiled. The Buddha instructed:

"From this day forward, it is permitted to use bark underneath as soles. If the bark falls off, use a cord to bind it. If it breaks, it is permitted to use thread, or hair, or strips of bark bound and fastened to the foot."

From this day forward the precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī wears sandals and carries a parasol while traveling — pācittiya. Except in special circumstances.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Whatever bhikkhunī wears shoes or sandals and carries a parasol while traveling — pācittiya. Except in special circumstances.

A bhikkhunī who wears shoes or sandals: for each village passed through along the way, one pācittiya per village. In places without villages — in a wilderness area — for every ten leagues traveled, one pācittiya. For less than one village, a dukkaṭa. For less than ten leagues, a dukkaṭa. For traveling within the boundary of one sīmā, a dukkaṭa.

If one intends to go but does not go, or makes an appointment to go but does not go, all such cases incur a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu, a dukkaṭa. For a sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī, a dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one is afflicted with some illness; or for the protection of the body, the robes, or the bedding; or if one is within the monastery and uses a parasol made of bark, leaves, or bamboo for shelter while walking. Or if for the protection of the body, the robes, or the sitting mats one makes wooden clogs or sandals to wear within the monastery — there is no offense. Or if one is seized by force, or bound and imprisoned, or if there is a threat to one's life, or a threat to one's practice of the holy life, and one wears clogs or sandals and carries a parasol while traveling — there is no offense in any of these cases.

Those who do not offend: one who commits the act for the first time before the precept has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or tormented and overwhelmed by 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, fascicles 1–2)

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002