Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 160Chest Wraps

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 160

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at Sāvatthī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunis entered the village without wearing the saṁkakṣikā, thereby exposing their chests, armpits, breasts, and waists. The laypeople who saw this all criticized them: "These bhikkhunis have no sense of shame, they engage in impure conduct. Outwardly they proclaim, 'I know the true Dharma.' But what kind of true Dharma is this? Entering the village without wearing the saṁkakṣikā — they are just like thieves' women, like harlots!"

The bhikkhunis heard of this, and among them were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic qualities, who delighted in training in the precepts, who knew shame. They rebuked the group of six bhikkhunis: "Why did you enter the village without wearing the saṁkakṣikā, exposing your chests, armpits, breasts, and waists in such a manner?"

The bhikkhunis then reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunis:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the deportment of a samaṇa, not pure conduct, not proper behavior — it is something that should not be done. Why did you enter the village without wearing the saṁkakṣikā, exposing your chests, armpits, breasts, and waists in such a manner?"

Having rebuked them by means of countless skillful words, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"These six bhikkhunis are a ground for the growth of many seeds of the āsavas; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunis, comprising ten bases of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'for the long endurance of the true Dharma.'"

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhuni enters a village without wearing the saṁkakṣikā — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhuni: as explained above.

Village: as explained previously.

Whatever bhikkhuni, without wearing the saṁkakṣikā, enters through the gate of a village — pācittiya. If one foot is outside the gate and one foot is inside the gate, or if she makes the effort but does not enter, or if she intends to enter but does not enter — all of these are dukkhaṭa.

A bhikkhu (?) — dukkhaṭa. A sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera (?), a sāmaṇerī — dukkhaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if she is afflicted with some kind of illness; or if there are sores under her armpits; or if she has no saṁkakṣikā; or if it has been washed and dyed and is not yet dry; or if it has been lost; or if it is stored in an excessively secure place; or if she has been taken by force; or if there is danger to life or to the holy life. In all these cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the first offense before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, of disordered mind, or afflicted with pain and oppressed by suffering.

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, volumes 1–21; Vietnamese translation, volumes 1 and 2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002