Lzh Dg Bu Vb Np 13A New Blanket Should Have Mixed Colors

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

13. A SLEEPING MAT IN EXCESS OF THE PROPER PROPORTIONS

A. ORIGIN OF THE RULE

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the city of Sāvatthī. At that time, the group of six monks made new sleeping mats from entirely white sheep's wool. When the lay people saw this, they all criticized them: "The Śākyan ascetics have no sense of shame or modesty, no sense of contentment, and no knowledge of sufficiency. Outwardly they claim to practice the true Dharma—but how can this be the true Dharma! How can they make new sleeping mats from entirely white sheep's wool, just like a King or a King's great minister?"

At that time, among the monks who heard this, there were those who were of few desires, who knew contentment, who practiced the ascetic virtues, who were fond of training in the precepts, who had a sense of shame and modesty, and they reproached the group of six monks:

"Why do you make sleeping mats from entirely white sheep's wool?"

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

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of monks, and then rebuked the group of six monks:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the practice of an ascetic, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with right behavior—you have done what should not be done. Why did you make sleeping mats from entirely white sheep's wool?"

The Blessed One rebuked the group of six monks with numerous skillful means, and then said to the monks:

"These are foolish men—they are a field for planting many seeds of the āsravas, and they are the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall set forth a precept for the monks, assembled around the ten principles, so that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever monk makes a new sleeping mat, he should use two parts black sheep's wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray. If a monk makes a new sleeping mat without using two parts black, the third part white, and the fourth part gray, it is a nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

Monk: as defined above.

White: naturally white, or dyed to become white.

Gray wool: wool from the head, ears, feet, or other places that is gray in color.

A monk wishing to make a sleeping mat of forty pālas of sheep's wool must use twenty pālas of entirely black wool, ten pālas of white wool, and ten pālas of gray wool. If he wishes to make a sleeping mat of thirty pālas, he must use fifteen pālas of entirely black wool; of the remaining fifteen pālas, half is to be entirely white and half entirely gray. If he wishes to make a sleeping mat of twenty pālas, he must use ten pālas of entirely black wool, five pālas of white wool, and five pālas of gray wool.

If a monk completes a new sleeping mat without using two parts black wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray, he commits a nissaggiya pācittiya. If it is not completed, he commits a dukkaṭa. If he instructs another to make it and it is completed, he commits a nissaggiya pācittiya; if it is not completed, he commits a dukkaṭa.

If he makes it on behalf of another, whether completed or not, he commits a dukkaṭa.

This nissaggiya article must be forfeited to the Saṅgha, or to a group, or to a single individual; it may not be forfeited to a separate assembly. If the forfeiture is not validly accomplished, it is a dukkaṭa.

When forfeiting to the Saṅgha, the offender must come before the Saṅgha, remove his sandals, bare his right shoulder, bow in respect toward the senior monk, kneel with the right knee touching the ground, join his palms together, and say:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! I, the monk named …, made a new sleeping mat without using two parts black sheep's wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray. I have committed an offense of forfeiture, and I now forfeit it to the Saṅgha."

After forfeiting, he must confess the offense. First, the monk who receives the confession must make a formal announcement:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! This monk named … has made a new sleeping mat without using two parts black sheep's wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray. He has committed an offense of forfeiture, and now forfeits it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha approves, I shall receive the confession of this monk. This is the motion."

After the motion is made, he then receives the confession. When receiving the confession, he must say to the offender:

"Reproach your own mind!"

The offending monk replies:

"Yes, I will."

The Saṅgha should return the sleeping mat to this monk by means of a formal act with one motion and one announcement (ñattidutiiya-kammavācā), as follows: The Saṅgha should appoint a capable monk to carry out the formal act, and, based on the matter above, make the motion:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! This monk named … has made a new sleeping mat without using two parts black sheep's wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray. He has committed an offense of forfeiture, and now forfeits it to the Saṅgha. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha approves, the sleeping mat shall be returned to this monk named …. This is the motion."

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! This monk named … has made a sleeping mat without using two parts black sheep's wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray. He has committed an offense of forfeiture, and now forfeits it to the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha now returns this sleeping mat to this monk. Those elders who agree that the Saṅgha should return this sleeping mat to this monk should remain silent. Those who do not agree should speak."

"The Saṅgha has approved the return of the sleeping mat to this monk named …. The Saṅgha approves and remains silent. This matter is recorded as such."

If a monk who has committed an offense forfeits the sleeping mat to the Saṅgha and the Saṅgha does not return it, the Saṅgha commits a dukkaṭa. If someone says "do not return it," that person commits a dukkaṭa. Whether the mat is transferred as a trust gift, given to another person, or kept in use until it wears out—all constitute a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhunī, it is a dukkaṭa. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī, it is a dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: If a monk makes a new sleeping mat with two parts black sheep's wool, the third part white, and the fourth part gray. Or if the white wool is insufficient and gray is used to supplement it, or the mat is made entirely of gray. Or if he obtains an item already made. Or if he cuts and tears it to ruin it. Or if he ruins its color. Or if he makes it into a pillow, an underblanket, or a cushion. Or if he makes it as an under-mat for sleeping. Or if he makes it into a small square sitting cloth. Or if he makes it into a bag for wrapping the alms bowl. Or if he makes it into a knife pouch. Or if he makes it into stockings. Or if he makes it into a warming head-cloth. Or if he makes it into a cloth for wrapping sandals—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: the first offender before the precept was laid down; one who is insane, one whose mind is disturbed, one who is afflicted with pain, one who is under duress.

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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.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002.