Lzh Dg Bu Vb Np 16Carrying Wool

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

16. CARRYING WOOL

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the city of Śrāvastī.

At that time, Upananda the Śākyan, while traveling on the road, obtained a large quantity of sheep's wool and tied it to the top of his staff and carried it along. Laypeople who saw this reproached him, saying: "Why does a Śākyan ascetic go about buying and selling sheep's wool?" And they asked: "Venerable, is this wool for sale?"

The bhikkhus heard these words, and among them those who were of few desires, contented, practiced the austere practices, were fond of training in the precepts, and possessed a sense of shame and remorse, rebuked Upananda: "Why did you tie wool to the top of your staff and carry it along the road?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported this matter to the Blessed One in full.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked Upananda the Śākyan:

"What you have done is wrong, improper, unbefitting a monastic, not in accord with pure conduct, not a practice in keeping with the training, and is something that should not be done. Why did you carry wool along the road, causing laypeople to reproach you?"

The Blessed One rebuked him by various means, and then said to the bhikkhus:

"This person is foolish, a source of planting many seeds of defilement, and is the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the long endurance of the true Dharma."

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, while traveling on the road, obtains sheep's wool and there is no one to carry it, he may carry it himself for up to three yojanas. If there is no one to carry it and he carries it himself beyond three yojanas, it is a nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

If a bhikkhu while traveling on the road, or while at his residence, obtains sheep's wool and has need of it, he may take it. If there is no one to carry it, he is permitted to carry it himself for up to three yojanas. If there is someone to carry it, he should say to that person: "I have this item; please carry it for me to such-and-such a place." During that time, the bhikkhu must not lend a hand to carry it.

If he lends a hand to carry it, he commits a dukkaṭa. If he instructs a bhikkhunī to carry it beyond three yojanas, he commits a dukkaṭa; if he instructs a sikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerikā to carry it beyond three yojanas, he commits a dukkaṭa. Apart from sheep's wool, if he carries other materials—such as kucala, milk-leaf grass, śaṇa fiber, hemp, kṣīravāṇī—beyond three yojanas, he commits a dukkaṭa.

If he carries any other items tied to the top of his staff as he walks, he also commits a dukkaṭa.

This nissaggiya offense must be forfeited to the Sangha, to a group, or to a single individual; it may not be forfeited to a separate assembly. If the forfeiture is not properly carried out, it constitutes a dukkaṭa.

When forfeiting to the Sangha, one must go before the Sangha, bare the right shoulder, remove one's sandals, bow respectfully in the direction of the senior monk, kneel with the right knee touching the ground, join the palms, and declare:

"Venerable Sangha, please hear me! I, the bhikkhu named …, having carried sheep's wool beyond three yojanas, have committed a nissaggiya offense. I now forfeit it to the Sangha."

After forfeiting, one must confess the offense. The one who receives the confession must first make a formal announcement:

"Venerable Sangha, please hear me! This bhikkhu named … has carried sheep's wool beyond three yojanas and has committed a nissaggiya offense. He now forfeits it to the Sangha. If it is agreeable to the Sangha, the Sangha consents; I shall receive the confession of this bhikkhu named …. This is the formal announcement."

After making the announcement, one may then receive the confession. When receiving the confession, one must say to the offending bhikkhu:

"Examine your own mind with care!"

The bhikkhu replies:

"I will do so."

The Sangha should return the wool to this bhikkhu by means of a resolution with one motion and one announcement (ñatti-dutiyakamma), as follows. The Sangha should appoint one qualified member to carry out the formal act, and based on the matter at hand, make the announcement:

"Venerable Sangha, please hear me! This bhikkhu named … has carried sheep's wool beyond three yojanas and has committed a nissaggiya offense. He now forfeits it to the Sangha. If it is agreeable to the Sangha, the Sangha consents to return the wool to this bhikkhu named …. This is the formal announcement."

"Venerable Sangha, please hear me! This bhikkhu named … has carried sheep's wool beyond three yojanas and has committed a nissaggiya offense. He now forfeits it to the Sangha. The Sangha now returns this wool to him. Those elders who consent to the Sangha's returning this wool to this bhikkhu, please remain silent. Those who do not consent, please speak."

"The Sangha has consented to returning the wool to this bhikkhu named …. The Sangha consents; therefore remain silent. This matter is recorded as such."

If the bhikkhu has forfeited the item before the Sangha and the Sangha does not return it, the Sangha commits a dukkaṭa. If someone says "do not return it," that person commits a dukkaṭa.

Whether it is transferred as a pure gift, given away, or used until worn out—all of these constitute a dukkaṭa.

Bhikkhunīs, sikṣamāṇās, śrāmaṇeras, and śrāmaṇerikās—all commit a dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: If one carries it for up to three yojanas, or for less than three yojanas; or if there is someone to carry it and one instructs that person to carry it to a certain place, and during that time one does not lend a hand oneself; or if one instructs a bhikkhunī, sikṣamāṇā, śrāmaṇera, or śrāmaṇerikā to carry it for three yojanas; or if the material is fine wool, a decorative cord made of wool, head wool, neck wool, or leg wool; or if it is made into a cap or a head covering for warmth; or if it is used to wrap sandals—all of these involve no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: the one who first committed the act before the rule was laid down; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted and overwhelmed by pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA 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 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002