Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 20Applying Materials to a Large Dwelling

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

20. BUILDING A LARGE DWELLING

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Ghosita Garden in the country of Kauśāmbī. At that time, the Venerable Chanda the bhikkhu was constructing a large dwelling. There was leftover thatch from the roofing, and he continued to thatch, adding layer upon layer until the third layer was laid, yet thatch still remained.

Then Chanda thought: "I cannot constantly go to the donors to ask for thatch." So he continued thatching without stopping, until at last the dwelling collapsed under the weight. The laypeople who saw this reproached him: "The Śākyan ascetics, having no sense of shame, beg without ever being satisfied. Outwardly they declare, 'We know the true Dharma.' Yet looking at things now, where is the true Dharma?

They build large dwellings, thatch without cease, until the house collapses. Even if the donors are willing to give, the recipient should know when enough is enough!"

Among the bhikkhus who heard this, those who were of few desires, content, who practiced the dhūta virtues, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who were possessed of a sense of shame, reproached Chanda: "How could you build a large dwelling and continue thatching without stopping until the house collapsed?"

The bhikkhus went to the place of the Blessed One, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported this matter fully to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked Bhikkhu Chanda:

"What you have done is wrong. It is not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the practice of ascetics, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with proper behavior. You have done what should not be done. Chanda! How could you build a large dwelling and continue thatching without stopping until the house collapsed?"

The Blessed One rebuked Bhikkhu Chanda by numerous means and then said to the bhikkhus:

"Bhikkhu Chanda, this foolish one, is a source of planting many defiled seeds, and he is the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall set forth the precept for the bhikkhus, in ten phrases, up to and including the phrase that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, when building a large dwelling with doors, window frames, and various decorative features, instructs the thatching to be done in two or three even layers; if he instructs thatching beyond that, it is a pācittiya.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

Large dwelling: a dwelling that requires many materials.

Various other decorative features: that is, carvings and paintings.

Thatching: there are two kinds — thatching lengthwise, and thatching crosswise.

When that bhikkhu has instructed the thatching of two layers and the third layer is not yet finished, he should depart to a place where he can neither see nor hear. If, after the thatching of two layers is complete and the third layer is not yet finished, the bhikkhu does not depart to a place where he can neither see nor hear, and the third layer is completed, he commits a pācittiya. If he withdraws from the range of hearing but remains within sight, or withdraws from sight but remains within the range of hearing, in all such cases he commits a dukkaṭa.

A bhikkhunī: pācittiya. A sikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, a śrāmaṇerī: dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if he instructs the thatching of the second layer and before the third layer is complete he departs to a place where he can neither see nor hear. If land routes or water routes are cut off, or there is danger from bandits, danger from wild beasts, flooding, or one is seized by force, or is bound, or there is danger to life, or danger to the holy life — if under such circumstances, having instructed the thatching up to the completion of the second layer and before the third layer is done, he is unable to depart to a place where he can neither see nor hear; in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits it for the first time before the precept has been established; one who is insane, one whose mind is deranged, one who is overcome by extreme pain and distress.

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 by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002