Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 19Using Water With Living Creatures

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

19. USING WATER CONTAINING LIVING CREATURES

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the land of Kauśāmbī. At that time, the bhikkhu Channa was building a large dwelling; he himself took water containing living creatures and mixed it into clay, and also directed others to mix it. Laypeople who saw this criticized him, saying: "The Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame or remorse, and no compassion; they harm the lives of living beings. They claim to be practicing the true Dharma, yet looking at what is happening right now, what is there that could be called the true Dharma? They use water containing living creatures to mix into clay, and direct others to mix it, thereby harming the lives of living beings."

Among the bhikkhus who heard this, those who were of few desires, content, who practiced the ascetic disciplines, were fond of training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame and remorse, reproached Channa: "Why, when building a dwelling, do you take water containing living creatures and mix it into clay, or direct others to mix it, thereby harming the lives of living beings?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One then used this matter as the occasion to convene the assembly of bhikkhus, and rebuked Channa:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper conduct, not befitting a monastic, not a pure practice, not a suitable course of action — it is something that should not be done. Channa! Why, when building a dwelling, do you take water containing living creatures and mix it into clay, or direct others to mix it, thereby harming the lives of living beings?"

Having rebuked Channa with many means of instruction, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:

"This foolish man is a source of manifold outflows; he is the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, for ten reasons, and up to the reason of the long endurance of the true Dharma."

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu himself uses water containing living creatures to mix into clay, or directs another to mix it, pācittiya.

The Blessed One laid down this rule for the bhikkhus in this way. At that time, some bhikkhus who previously had not known whether the water contained living creatures or not later came to know that it did, and some performed the act of confession for pācittiya, while others held back out of caution. The Buddha said: "If one did not know, there is no offense."

From now on, the rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu, knowing that water contains living creatures, himself sprinkles it on clay or grass, or directs another to sprinkle it, pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

If, knowing that water contains living creatures, one throws grass or earth into it, pācittiya. Apart from plain water, if there are living creatures in soy sauce, clear soy sauce, vinegar, or water in which rice has been soaked, and one oneself or directs another to sprinkle it on clay or grass, pācittiya.

If one oneself or directs another to throw earth or grass into soy sauce, clear soy sauce, vinegar, or water in which rice has been soaked that contains living creatures, pācittiya.

If the water contains living creatures and one perceives it as containing living creatures, pācittiya. If the water contains living creatures and one is uncertain, dukkaṭa. If the water does not contain living creatures and one perceives it as containing living creatures, dukkaṭa. If the water does not contain living creatures and one is uncertain, dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhunī, pācittiya. For a sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī, dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one does not know that there are living creatures; if one thinks there are no living creatures; or if the creatures are large and one stirs the water by hand so that they move away; or if one sprinkles filtered water on the ground or directs another to sprinkle it — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: the first offender before the rule was laid down; one who is insane; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is overwhelmed by severe pain.

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

Buddhist Publication Committee 2002