Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 89Crying

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 89

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambi, in the Ghosita Park. At that time, the bhikkhunī Kālā quarreled with another person and, failing to skillfully keep in mind the avoidance of disputes, beat her chest with her hands and wailed and cried.

Among the bhikkhunīs who heard of this, those who were of few desires, contented, who practiced the ascetic rules, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who knew shame, rebuked the bhikkhunī Kālā: "Why did you quarrel with another person and then beat your chest with your hands and wail and cry?"

The bhikkhunīs came and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus came and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened the assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked the bhikkhunī Kālā:

"You have done what is wrong, what is not proper conduct, not the practice of a renunciant, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior — you have done what ought not to be done. Bhikkhunī Kālā, why did you quarrel with another person and then beat your chest with your hands and wail and cry?"

After rebuking the bhikkhunī Kālā with countless skillful means, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

"This bhikkhunī Kālā is a field for the planting of many seeds of the defiled outflows, and she is the first to commit this offense. From this time forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs comprising ten bases of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'for the long endurance of the true Dharma.'"

The rule should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, being in dispute, fails to skillfully keep in mind the avoidance of disputes, and beats her chest and wails and cries — a pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: the meaning is as above.

A bhikkhunī being in dispute with another: there are four kinds of disputes as previously described.

If a bhikkhunī engages in dispute with another and, failing to skillfully keep in mind the various disputes, beats her chest and wails and cries — each blow to the chest incurs one pācittiya; each tear that falls incurs one pācittiya.

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

Non-offense: if one is afflicted with some kind of illness; or if, while eating, one chokes and must strike one's own chest; or if tears flow on account of urination or defecation; or if tears flow due to wind, cold, or heat; or if tears flow due to exposure to smoke; or if, upon hearing the Dharma, the mind gives rise to weariness and a longing for liberation and tears fall; or if tears flow from the application of eye medicine — 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 rule has been established; one who is deranged, mentally disturbed, or tormented by acute pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002