Lzh Dg Bu Vb Np 12Pure Black Blanket

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

12. BEDDING OF PURE BLACK

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the pavilion beside the Monkey River at Vesālī. At that time, the Licchavī youths of Vesālī were for the most part engaging in licentious conduct. They used woolen felt made entirely of black goat's hair as cloaks to cover their bodies, and went about at night so that people could not see them.

At that time, the group of six monks saw this and imitated them, making woolen felt bedding entirely from black goat's hair. The Licchavīs saw this and all said:

"Venerable Sirs, we are people living in sensual desire; it is because of lustful conduct that we use woolen felt made from black goat's hair. But for what reason do you use such woolen felt made from black goat's hair?"

At that time, those monks who heard this, among whom were those of few desires, contentment, and the practice of the ascetic rules, who delighted in training in the precepts and who possessed a sense of shame and remorse, reproached the group of six monks: "Why do you imitate the Licchavīs in using woolen felt made from black goat's hair?"

Having rebuked them, they went to the Blessed One, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side, then reported this matter to the Blessed One fully.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the monks and by means of countless skillful means rebuked the group of six monks:

"What you have done is wrong, unbefitting, not in accord with the conduct of a monk, not a pure practice, not an appropriate action, and something that should not be done. O group of six monks, why did you imitate the Licchavīs in using woolen felt made from black goat's hair?"

Having then rebuked the group of six monks by means of countless skillful means, the Blessed One addressed the monks:

"These are foolish persons; they are a field that grows many seeds of the āsavas; they are the first to transgress this precept. From now on, I will lay down a rule for the monks, comprising ten clauses in its meaning, up to the clause that the true Dharma may long endure."

Wishing to recite the rule, it should be recited thus:

Whatever monk makes new bedding entirely from black goat's hair — nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Monk: as explained above.

Entirely black: whether naturally black in color, or made black through dyeing.

If a monk himself makes new bedding entirely from black goat's hair and it is completed, he incurs nissaggiya pācittiya; if it is not completed, he incurs dukkaṭa. If he causes another to make it: if completed, he incurs nissaggiya pācittiya; if not completed, he incurs dukkaṭa. If he makes it on behalf of another person, whether completed or not completed, he incurs dukkaṭa.

This nissaggiya item should be forfeited to the Saṅgha, or to a group, or to an individual; it may not be forfeited to a divided assembly. If the forfeiture is carried out improperly, he incurs dukkaṭa.

When forfeiting to the Saṅgha, the offender must go before the Saṅgha, uncover the right shoulder, remove footwear, pay homage to the senior elder, kneel on the right knee with it touching the ground, press the palms together, and say:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please hear me! I, the monk named …, have made bedding from goat's hair entirely black, committing an offense of forfeiture; I now forfeit it to the Saṅgha."

Having forfeited it, he must then confess the offense. The one who receives the confession must first make a preliminary announcement:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please hear me! This monk named … has made bedding from goat's hair entirely black, committing an offense of forfeiture, and has now forfeited it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents; I shall receive the confession of the offense of the monk named … . This is the preliminary announcement."

Having made the preliminary announcement in this way, he then receives the confession. When receiving the confession, he should say to the offending monk:

"Reproach your own mind!"

The offender replies:

"Yes, I will."

The Saṅgha should return the bedding to this monk by means of a formal act of a single announcement and one motion (ñattidutiiyakamma), as follows: The Saṅgha should appoint one capable of performing the formal act, who, based on the above matter, makes the preliminary announcement:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please hear me! This monk named … has made bedding from goat's hair entirely black, committing an offense of forfeiture, and has now forfeited it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to return the bedding to the monk named … . This is the preliminary announcement."

"Venerable Saṅgha, please hear me! This monk named … has made bedding from goat's hair entirely black, committing an offense of forfeiture, and has now forfeited it to the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha now returns this bedding to this monk. Those elders who agree that the Saṅgha should return this sitting mat to this monk should remain silent. Those who do not agree should speak."

"The Saṅgha has consented to return the bedding to this monk; the Saṅgha consents and therefore is silent. This matter is recorded as such."

If a monk who has committed the offense has forfeited the bedding within the Saṅgha and the Saṅgha does not return it, the Saṅgha incurs dukkaṭa. If at the time of returning it someone says "do not return it," that person incurs dukkaṭa.

If one takes it and transfers it to another as a pure gift, or entrusts it to someone else, or spreads it out until it is worn out and torn, all such actions incur dukkaṭa.

A bhikkhunī who commits this offense incurs dukkaṭa. A sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī who commits this offense incurs dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one obtains a finished article, or cuts and ruins it, or folds it thinly into two layers, or uses it as a blanket, or as a pillow, or as a small square sitting cloth, or as a felt for lying on, or as a liner inside a bowl, or as a knife sheath, or as socks, or as a warm head covering, or as a cloth to cover the tops of sandals, and so forth — none of these constitute an offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: the one who first transgressed before the rule was established; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or in great pain and distress.

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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: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002