Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 10Digging the Earth

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

10. DIGGING THE EARTH

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Vaiśālī. At that time, the group of six monks, in order to repair the lecture hall for the Buddha, dug up the earth around the lecture hall. Lay people saw this and criticized them: "The ascetics, disciples of the Śākyan, have no sense of shame; they destroy the lives of other beings. Outwardly they claim to know the true Dharma—just look at what they do today: what is there that is in accordance with the true Dharma? They dig the earth with their own hands and destroy the lives of other creatures!"

The monks heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic virtues, were fond of training in the precepts, and knew shame and remorse. They reproached the group of six monks: "Why, in order to repair the lecture hall for the Buddha, do you dig the earth with your own hands, causing the elders to criticize you?"

The monks went to where the Blessed One was, bowed at his feet, sat to one side, and reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One rebuked the group of six monks with many expedient means:

"What you have done is wrong—it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior; you have done what should not be done. Why do you dig the earth with your own hands, causing the elders to criticize you?"

Having rebuked the group of six monks with many expedient means, the Blessed One said to the monks:

"These are foolish men; this is the source where many seeds of defilement are planted. These are the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the monks, comprising ten benefits, up to the phrase: 'so that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever monk digs the earth with his own hand—pācittiya.

The Blessed One thus laid down this precept for the monks.

At that time, the group of six monks, while repairing the lecture hall, only directed others to dig the earth, saying: "Dig here, remove this here." The elders saw this and criticized them: "Why do the ascetics, disciples of the Śākyan, have no sense of shame? They order others to dig the earth, destroying the lives of other beings, without any compassion. Outwardly they claim to know the true Dharma—just look at what they do today: what is there that is in accordance with the true Dharma?"

At that time, the monks heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic virtues, were fond of training in the precepts, and knew shame and remorse. They reproached the group of six monks: "Why, when repairing the Buddha's lecture hall, do you direct others to dig the earth, saying: 'Dig here, remove this here,' causing the elders to criticize you?"

Having rebuked the group of six monks, those of few desires went to where the Blessed One was, bowed at his feet, sat to one side, and reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One then assembled the community of monks and rebuked the group of six monks:

"What you have done is wrong—it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior; you have done what should not be done. Why, when repairing the lecture hall, do you direct others to dig the earth, saying: 'Dig here, remove this here,' causing the elders to criticize you?"

Having rebuked the group of six monks with many expedient means, the Blessed One said to the monks:

"From now on, I shall lay down this precept for the monks":

Whatever monk digs the earth with his own hand, or orders another to dig—pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Monk: as explained above.

Earth: earth that has been dug, or earth that has not been dug. If earth that has been dug has been penetrated by rain for four months and returned to its original state—whether one takes a harrow and harrows it, or uses a spade to dig, or uses a mallet to pound, or uses a sickle or knife to cut; or even uses a fingernail to press into the earth so as to damage it—all of these constitute a pācittiya offense. Driving a stake into the earth—pācittiya. Lighting a fire on the earth—pācittiya. Earth perceived as earth—pācittiya. If one does not say: "Look at this, know this!"—a dukkaṭa offense.

Bhikkhunī—pācittiya. Śikṣamāṇā, śrāmaṇera, śrāmaṇerī—dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offenses: if one says, "Look at this, know this!" Or if one pulls out trees or bamboo, or rights a fallen fence; or turns over a stone to obtain fertilizer; or a bank of earth collapses; or one takes earth from a rat hole; or one clears earth at a walking meditation path; or one clears earth inside a building; or one clears a passage for coming and going and for walking meditation; or one sweeps the earth; or one's staff is pressed into the ground; or one digs without intention. All of these are non-offenses.

Those who do not commit an offense: the first offender before the precept was laid down; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted with pain and oppressed by suffering.

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 and 2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002