Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 164Keep early or late vassa

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 164

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, there were bhikkhunīs who did not observe the rains retreat.

Among the bhikkhunīs who heard of this, there were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta qualities, were fond of training in the precepts, and knew shame and remorse. They rebuked those bhikkhunīs: "Why did you not observe the rains retreat?"

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 circumstance, convened the assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked Sthūlanandā:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the conduct of a monastic, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with right behavior — it is something that should not be done. How could a bhikkhunī fail to observe the rains retreat?"

Having rebuked her in numerous ways, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"This bhikkhunī is a field in which many seeds of the defiled are sown, and she is among the first to transgress this rule. From this day forward, I shall establish a precept for the bhikkhunīs, for ten reasons, up to and including the perpetuation of the true Dharma."

The precept should be proclaimed as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī does not observe the rains retreat — pācittiya.

The Blessed One established the precept for the bhikkhunīs in this way. At that time, there were bhikkhunīs who, due to affairs concerning the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Saṅgha, or due to caring for the sick, were unable to begin the rains retreat in time, and they were uncertain. The Buddha instructed:

"From this day forward, when such circumstances arise, one may observe the later rains retreat."

From now on, the precept should be proclaimed as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī does not observe the early rains retreat and does not observe the later rains retreat — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Whatever bhikkhunī does not observe the early rains retreat — a duṣkṛta; does not observe the later rains retreat — a pācittiya.

Non-offense: observing the early rains retreat; or, due to affairs concerning the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Saṅgha, or due to caring for the sick, observing the later rains retreat. In all such cases, there is no offense.

Those without offense: one who transgresses for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or afflicted 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 Editorial Committee, 2002