Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 95During the Rainy Season

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 95

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs traveled throughout the human world during all three seasons of spring, summer, and winter. When they encountered heavy rain and strong winds, rivers flooded and overflowed, sweeping away their robes, bowls, sitting mats, and needle cases, and they trampled living grasses underfoot, killing living beings.

Laypeople saw this and criticized them: "These bhikkhunīs have no sense of shame; they cut off the lives of living beings. Outwardly they claim, 'I know the true Dharma.' What kind of true Dharma is this? Why do bhikkhunīs always travel throughout the human world throughout all three seasons?

When heavy rain comes and rivers flood and overflow, sweeping away their belongings, they furthermore trample living grasses underfoot, cutting off the lives of living beings."

The bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta virtues, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame. They rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you always travel throughout the human world during all three seasons of spring, summer, and winter? When heavy rain comes and rivers flood and overflow, sweeping away your robes and belongings, you furthermore trample living grasses underfoot — causing laypeople to criticize you."

The bhikkhunīs came and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus came and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Bhikkhu Saṅgha and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a renunciant, not pure conduct, not fitting behavior; it is something that should not be done. Group of six bhikkhunīs, why do you always travel throughout the human world throughout all three seasons of spring, summer, and winter? When heavy rain comes and rivers flood and overflow, sweeping away your robes and belongings, you furthermore trample living grasses underfoot, causing laypeople to criticize you."

The Blessed One rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs with countless skillful means and then said to the bhikkhus:

"This group of six bhikkhunīs is a field for planting many seeds of the āsavas, and they are the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhunīs comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'so that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī travels throughout the human world during all three seasons of spring, summer, and winter, [commits] a pācittiya.

The Blessed One laid down the rule for the bhikkhunīs in this way. There were bhikkhunīs who had business concerning the Buddha, the Dharma, the Saṅgha, or concerning a sick bhikkhunī. The Buddha instructed:

"Permission is granted to go outside the boundary, having accepted the seven-day leave."

From now on the rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhunī travels throughout the human world during all three seasons of spring, summer, and winter commits a pācittiya, except in other circumstances.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Whatever bhikkhunī travels throughout the human world during all three seasons of spring, summer, and winter: for each occasion of entering within the boundary of a village, she commits a pācittiya for each instance. If there is no village there, or no boundary, she commits a pācittiya for traveling within a range of ten li. For less than one village or less than ten li, she commits a dukkaṭa. For traveling within a single village or within a single boundary, she commits a dukkaṭa.

If she intends to go but does not go, or if she arranges to go but does not go, in all such cases she commits a dukkaṭa.

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

Non-offense: On account of business concerning the Buddha, the Dharma, the Saṅgha, or a sick bhikkhunī, if she goes outside the boundary having accepted the seven-day leave — or if she is taken by force or led away bound, or if there is danger to life or danger to the holy life — there is no offense.

Those not at fault: one who commits the offense for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or in severe pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002