Lzh Dg Bi Vb Ss 15Siding With One Socializing

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– SAṄGHĀDISESA

15. SIDING WITH THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the land of Śrāvastī. At that time, the two bhikkhunīs Somā and Bhāsphadī had already been admonished and remonstrated by the Saṅgha. Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, together with bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā, said to them: "The two of you should continue to live together. Why is that? Because I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, and covering up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately."

The bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic dhūta qualities, who delighted in the training of the precepts, who knew shame and remorse. They censured the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā: "The Saṅgha has already administered the procedure of admonition and remonstrance to bhikkhunīs Somā and Bhāsphadī. Why then did you say to them: 'The two of you should continue to live together. Why is that? Because I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, and covering up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately.'"

The bhikkhunīs reported this 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 the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, and censured the group of six and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā:

"The Saṅgha has already administered the procedure of admonition and remonstrance for bhikkhunīs Somā and Bhāsphadī. Why then did you say to them: 'The two of you should continue to live together. Why is that? Because I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, and covering up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately'?"

The Blessed One censured the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā by means of numberless skillful expedients, and then spoke to the bhikkhus:

The Saṅgha of bhikkhunīs is permitted to administer to the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā the procedure of admonition by means of a motion-and-three-proclamations羯磨 (jñapticaturthakarmavācanā). The remonstrance should be conducted as follows: Within the community of bhikkhunīs, one capable of performing the kamma procedure should be appointed, and in accordance with the above matter, the motion should be proclaimed:

"Venerable sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. These group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā — the Saṅgha has already administered the procedure of admonition and remonstrance to bhikkhunīs Somā and Bhāsphadī, yet they said: 'The two of you should continue to live together. Why is that?

Because I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, and covering up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately.' If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, and if the Saṅgha consents, the Saṅgha shall administer to the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā the procedure of admonition, instructing them to abandon this matter, saying: 'You should not speak thus: "Do not live separately; you should live together." Nor should you say: "I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, covering up offenses for one another.

The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately."' It is only these two bhikkhunīs who associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute has spread everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another — there is no one else. If bhikkhunīs do not associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, and spread ill repute, then within the Buddha-Dharma there will be growth and benefit, and one will live in peace and happiness.

This is the motion.

"Venerable sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. These group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā — the Saṅgha has already administered the procedure of admonition and remonstrance to bhikkhunīs Somā and Bhāsphadī, yet they said: 'The two of you should continue to live together. Why is that?

Because I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, and covering up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately.' Now the Saṅgha administers to the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā the procedure of admonition, instructing them to abandon this matter, saying: 'You should not speak thus: "Do not live separately; you should live together." Nor should you say: "I have also seen other bhikkhunīs living together, associating closely with one another, engaging in evil conduct, their ill repute spreading everywhere, covering up offenses for one another.

The Saṅgha, out of enmity toward you, has told you to live separately." It is only these two bhikkhunīs who associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute has spread everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another — there is no one else. If bhikkhunīs do not associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, and spread ill repute, then within the Buddha-Dharma there will be growth and benefit, and one will live in peace and happiness.'

"Those venerable sisters who consent to the Saṅgha's administering to the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā the procedure of admonition and remonstrance to abandon this matter should remain silent; those who do not consent should speak. This is the first proclamation of the kamma." (The second and third proclamations are spoken in the same manner.)

"The Saṅgha has consented to admonishing the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā and causing them to abandon this matter. The Saṅgha's consent is expressed by silence. So it is recorded."

After the Saṅgha had administered to the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā the procedure of admonition and remonstrance by means of the motion-and-three-proclamations kamma, the bhikkhus went and reported this to the Blessed One. The Blessed One instructed:

"If there are any bhikkhunīs who act in such a manner, the Saṅgha shall likewise administer to them the procedure of admonition to abandon that matter by means of the motion-and-three-proclamations kamma.

"From this day forward, I shall lay down the precept for the bhikkhunīs, in complete form with its meaning, up to and including the phrase 'for the right Dharma to long endure.'"

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, when the Saṅgha of bhikkhunīs has administered to certain bhikkhunīs the procedure of admonition, should instruct those bhikkhunīs thus: 'You should not live separately; you should live together. I have also seen other bhikkhunīs who do not live separately — who live together, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute spreads everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, because it is displeased with you, has told you to live separately' — the bhikkhunīs should remonstrate with that bhikkhunī, saying: 'Venerable sister, you should not tell those bhikkhunīs: "Do not live separately.

I have also seen bhikkhunīs who live together, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute spreads everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, because it is displeased with you, has told you to live separately." It is only these two bhikkhunīs, and no one else, who live together, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute spreads everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another. If these bhikkhunīs live separately, then within the Buddha-Dharma there will be growth and benefit, and one will live in peace and happiness.' When the bhikkhunīs remonstrate with that bhikkhunī and she persists and refuses to desist, the bhikkhunīs should remonstrate with her three times, causing her to abandon this matter.

Up to three times of remonstrance — if she desists, that is good; if she does not desist, this bhikkhunī incurs three saṅghādisesa offenses requiring relinquishment and acknowledgment.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

Bhikkhunī: the meaning is as above.

Saṅgha: also as above.

When any bhikkhunī has had the procedure of admonition administered to her by the Saṅgha, and other bhikkhunīs say: "You should not live separately; you should live together. I have also seen bhikkhunīs who associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute spreads everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, because it is displeased with you, has told you to live separately" — this bhikkhunī should remonstrate with that bhikkhunī: "Venerable sister!

You should not tell those bhikkhunīs: 'You should not live separately; you should live together. I have also seen bhikkhunīs who associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute spreads everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another. The Saṅgha, because it is displeased with you, has told you to live separately.' Now it is only these two bhikkhunīs and no one else who associate closely with one another, engage in evil conduct, whose ill repute spreads everywhere, and who cover up offenses for one another.

If these bhikkhunīs live separately, there will be growth and benefit, and one will live in peace and happiness within the Buddha-Dharma. Now you should abandon this matter; do not allow the Saṅgha to be put in the position of admonishing you and thereby incur a grave offense."

If she heeds this, that is good; if not, the motion should be formally announced. After the motion has been announced, one should say: "Venerable sister! I have already announced the motion. There are still further kamma proclamations. You should abandon this matter."

If she heeds this, that is good; if not, the first kamma proclamation should be performed. After the first kamma proclamation has been performed, one should say: "I have already announced the motion and performed the first kamma proclamation; there are still two more kamma proclamations remaining. You should abandon this matter; do not allow the Saṅgha to be put in the position of admonishing you, and thereby incur a grave offense."

If she heeds this, that is good; if not, the second kamma proclamation should be performed. After the second kamma proclamation has been completed, one should say: "Venerable sister! I have already announced the motion and performed the second kamma proclamation; there is still one more kamma proclamation remaining. You should abandon this matter; do not allow the Saṅgha to admonish you and thereby incur a grave offense."

If they heed the admonition, well and good; if not, upon completion of the third formal act of羯磨 (kammavācā), they incur a saṅghādisesa. Upon completion of the second formal act and then abandoning it, they incur three thullaccayas. Upon completion of the first formal act and then abandoning it, they incur two thullaccayas.

Upon completion of the motion and then abandoning it, they incur one thullaccaya. If abandoned before the motion is complete, they incur a dukkaṭa. Before the motion has been put, if one instructs them saying: "Sisters, do not dwell separately.

I too have seen other bhikkhunīs dwelling together, committing evil conduct, with evil repute spreading everywhere, mutually concealing one another's offenses. The Saṅgha, being displeased with you, has told you to dwell separately" — all such instances incur a dukkaṭa.

If there is a bhikkhunī of this sort, when the Saṅgha administers the act of admonition, and a bhikkhu says: "Do not abandon it!" — at the time of the formal rebuke, he incurs a thullaccaya; before the formal rebuke, he incurs a dukkaṭa. If a bhikkhunī says: "Do not abandon it!" — at the time of the formal rebuke, she incurs a thullaccaya; before the formal rebuke, she incurs a dukkaṭa.

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

Non-offense: if upon the first utterance she immediately abandons it; or if the act of rebuke is performed unlawfully by a separate assembly, unlawfully by a unified assembly, lawfully by a separate assembly, in a manner resembling lawfulness by a separate assembly, in a manner resembling lawfulness by a unified assembly, contrary to the Dhamma and Vinaya, not in accordance with the Buddha's teaching — in all such cases it does not constitute a valid rebuke. None of these incur any offense.

Those who do not offend: the first offender before the precept was promulgated; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or afflicted and overwhelmed by pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publishing Committee, 2002