Lzh Dg Bu Vb Np 17Getting a Nun to Wash Wool

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA

17. HAVING WOOL COMBED

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling among the Śākyas in the Nigrodha Park at Kapilavastu.

At that time, the group of six monks had new sitting mats made of wool, and ordered nuns to wash, dye, and comb them.

At that time, the nun Mahāpajāpatī, because of the dyeing, had her hands stained with dye. She came to where the Blessed One was, bowed her head at the feet of the Buddha, and stood to one side. The Blessed One, though knowing, still asked:

"Gautamī, why do your hands have a color like those of a dyer?"

Gautamī said to the Buddha:

"The group of six monks wished to make new sitting mats, so they brought wool and told us to wash, dye, and comb it—that is why our hands are soiled."

She bowed her head at the feet of the Buddha and returned to her dwelling.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of monks. Though knowing, he still asked the group of six monks:

"Is it true that you had new sitting mats made and ordered nuns to wash, dye, and comb them?"

The group of six monks replied:

"Blessed One, it is true."

The Blessed One rebuked the group of six monks with countless skillful means:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the way of a recluse, not in accordance with pure practice, not in accordance with proper behavior—this is something that should not be done. How could you order nuns to wash, dye, and comb wool?"

Having rebuked them with countless skillful means, the Blessed One then said to the monks:

"The group of six monks are foolish persons—they are a field in which many seeds of defilement are sown, and they are the first offenders of this precept. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the monks, based on ten principles, so that the true Dharma may long endure."

The rule should be stated as follows:

Whatever monk orders a nun to wash, dye, or comb wool: nissaggiya pācittiya.

After the Blessed One had laid down this rule for the monks in this way, the monks were all filled with doubt and did not dare to order nuns who were relatives to wash, dye, or comb wool. The Buddha instructed:

"I permit relatives to wash, dye, and comb. From this day forward, I lay down the rule for monks as follows:

Whatever monk orders a nun who is not a relative to wash, dye, or comb wool: nissaggiya pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Monk, not a relative, relative: as explained above.

If any monk orders a nun who is not a relative to wash, dye, and comb wool, he commits three nissaggiya pācittiyas.

If he orders washing, dyeing, and combing, but she only washes and dyes without combing, he commits two nissaggiya pācittiyas and one dukkaṭa.

If he orders washing, dyeing, and combing, but she washes and combs without dyeing, he commits two nissaggiya pācittiyas and one dukkaṭa.

If he orders washing, dyeing, and combing, but she dyes and combs without washing, he commits two nissaggiya pācittiyas and one dukkaṭa.

If he orders washing, dyeing, and combing, but she does none of them, he commits a dukkaṭa.

If he orders a sāmaṇerī or a sikkhāmānā who is not a relative to wash, dye, or beat, he commits a dukkaṭa.

This article must be forfeited to the Saṅgha, or to a group, or to an individual; it may not be forfeited to a separate group. If the forfeiture is not properly carried out, he commits a dukkaṭa. When forfeiting, one must come before the Saṅgha, bare the right shoulder, remove footwear, respectfully bow toward the senior monk, kneel with the right knee touching the ground, join the palms together, and say:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! I, the monk named …, have ordered a nun who is not a relative to wash, dye, and comb wool; having committed a nissaggiya offense, I now forfeit it to the Saṅgha."

Having forfeited it, one must confess the offense. The one who receives the confession must first make a formal declaration:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! This monk named … has ordered a nun who is not a relative to wash, dye, and comb wool; having committed a nissaggiya offense, he has now forfeited it to the Saṅgha. If it seems right to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents that I receive the confession of this monk named …. This is the formal declaration."

After making the declaration, one may then receive the confession. When receiving the confession, one should say to the offending monk:

"Examine your own mind!"

The offender replies:

"I shall."

The Saṅgha must return the wool to this monk by means of a formal act with one announcement and one motion (ñattidutigakamma), as follows: The Saṅgha should appoint a capable person to conduct the formal act and make the announcement according to the matter:

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! This monk named … has ordered a nun who is not a relative to wash, dye, and comb wool; having committed a nissaggiya offense, he has now forfeited it to the Saṅgha. If it seems right to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to return this wool to the monk named …. This is the formal declaration."

"Venerable Saṅgha, please listen! This monk named … has ordered a nun who is not a relative to wash, dye, and comb wool; having committed a nissaggiya offense, he has now forfeited it to the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha now returns this wool to this monk. Any elder who consents to the Saṅgha returning this wool to this monk should remain silent. Whoever does not consent, please speak."

"The Saṅgha has consented to return the wool to the monk named …. The Saṅgha consents and therefore is silent. This matter is recorded as such."

If, in the midst of the Saṅgha, that monk has forfeited the wool and the Saṅgha does not return it, they commit a dukkaṭa. If someone says "do not return it," that person commits a dukkaṭa.

If one transfers it through a pure gift, or gives it to another person, or keeps using it, or intentionally destroys it—all of these constitute a dukkaṭa.

A nun: dukkaṭa. A sikkhāmānā, sāmaṇera, and sāmaṇerī: all dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: Ordering a nun who is a relative to wash, dye, or comb. Or washing, dyeing, or combing for a sick person. Or washing, dyeing, or combing for the Saṅgha, for the Buddha, or for a stūpa. All of these are without offense.

Non-offenders: the first offender before the rule was laid down; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or overcome by extreme pain and distress.

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, fascicles 1, 2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002