Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 92Making Ill at Ease

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 92

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, a group of six bhikkhunīs, wishing to disturb others, would either arrive later when another had come first, or come first when another was to arrive later; and in that person's presence would recite scriptures, ask questions on their meaning, and give instruction.

The bhikkhunīs heard of this. Among them were those of few desires, who knew contentment, practiced the austere dhūta qualities, delighted in training in the precepts, and had a sense of shame; they reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you deliberately cause trouble, arriving later when others came first, or coming first when others are to arrive later; and in their presence reciting scriptures, asking questions on their meaning, and giving instruction?"

The bhikkhunīs went and reported this to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of bhikkhus and reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"Why do you deliberately cause trouble, arriving later when others came first, or coming first when others are to arrive later; and in their presence reciting scriptures, asking questions on their meaning, and giving instruction?"

The Blessed One, having reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs with countless means, then said to the bhikkhus:

"This group of six bhikkhunīs is a field for growing many defiled seeds; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten clauses of meaning, up to and including the clause on the long abiding of the true Dharma."

The rule should be proclaimed as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī deliberately causes trouble by arriving later when another came first, or coming first when another is to arrive later; and in that person's presence recites scriptures, asks questions on their meaning, and gives instruction — pācittiya.

The Blessed One thus laid down this rule for the bhikkhunīs. There were bhikkhunīs who did not know who had come first or had not come first, who had arrived later or had not arrived later; learning this only afterward, some among them performed the pācittiya confession, and some were in doubt. The Buddha instructed:

"If one does not know, there is no offense."

From this day forward, the rule should be proclaimed as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, knowing that one came first yet arrives later, or knowing that one arrived later yet came first, deliberately intending to cause trouble, in that person's presence recites scriptures, asks questions on their meaning, and gives instruction — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

A bhikkhunī who knows that one came first yet arrives later, or that one arrived later yet came first, deliberately intending to cause trouble, in that person's presence recites scriptures, asks questions on their meaning, and gives instruction: if stated clearly, she incurs a pācittiya; if not stated clearly, she incurs a duṣkṛta.

A bhikkhu: duṣkṛta. A śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, a śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one does not know; or if one is given permission; or if a relative, or the relative's person, says, "Please give instruction, Sister; I will speak on your behalf." Or if the one who came first comes to receive the teaching together with the one who arrived later, or the one who arrived later comes to receive the recitation together with the one who came first. Or if both persons go to someone else to receive it. Or if the other person asks and this one answers. Or if they recite together; or if one speaks in jest, speaks hastily, speaks in a dream; or if intending to say one thing one mistakenly says another. All such cases are without offense.

Those without offense: one who commits the first offense before the rule has been laid down; one who is mentally deranged, whose mind is disturbed, or who is overwhelmed by physical suffering.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002.