Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 28Travelling on a Boat With a Nun

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

28. TRAVELLING ON A BOAT TOGETHER WITH A NUN

A. ORIGIN OF THE RULE

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Sāvatthī. At that time, the group of six monks and the group of six nuns were travelling together on one boat, going upstream and downstream on the water.

Lay people who saw this were displeased, and discussed it among themselves: "The Śākyan ascetics have no sense of shame, they do not cultivate the brahmacarya. They outwardly declare, 'I cultivate the true Dharma,' yet what true Dharma is there in this? While they travel together with nuns on one boat going upstream and downstream, if desire should arise, they would just moor the boat by the riverbank and do as they please, would they not?"

At that time, the monks heard this. Among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta qualities, were fond of training in the precepts, and had a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six monks: "Why do you travel together with the group of six nuns on one boat, going upstream and downstream on the water?"

The monks went to the place where the Blessed One was, bowed down at his feet, sat to one side, and fully reported this matter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One then used this occasion to convene the assembly of monks, and rebuked the group of six monks:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accord with proper conduct, not befitting a śramaṇa, not pure practice, not proper behavior — you have done what should not be done. Why did you travel together with the group of six nuns on one boat, going upstream and downstream on the water?"

Having rebuked them, the Blessed One addressed the monks:

"These foolish men are a ground in which many seeds of the āsravas are planted; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the monks, embracing ten points of meaning, up to and including the continuance of the true Dharma for a long time."

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever monk travels together with a nun on a boat, going upstream or downstream on the water — pācittiya.

The Blessed One laid down the rule for monks in this way. At that time, some monks encountered nuns unexpectedly without prior arrangement, and were apprehensive. The Buddha instructed:

"Without prior arrangement, there is no offense."

From this day forward the rule shall be stated thus:

Whatever monk, by prior arrangement, travels together with a nun on a boat, going upstream or downstream on the water — pācittiya.

The Blessed One laid down the rule for monks in this way. At that time, a number of monks wished to cross from one bank to the other bank of the Ganges. At that same time, a number of nuns also wished to cross from one bank to the other bank of the Ganges, and the nuns approached and asked:

"Venerable ones, where do you intend to go?"

The monks said:

"We wish to cross the Ganges."

The nuns asked:

"May we cross together with you?"

The monks said:

"You cross first and we will cross afterward. Or else, you cross afterward and we will cross first. Why is this? Because the Blessed One has laid down a rule that one may not travel on the same boat as nuns when crossing a river. Therefore it cannot be permitted."

The nuns said:

"Venerable ones, you are our revered superiors. We invite you to cross first; we will cross afterward."

At that time it was the summer season; there was heavy rain, and the waters were high. After the boat reached the far bank, it had not yet returned before darkness fell. The nuns had to spend the night on the near bank, and that night they encountered bandits. The monks came and reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha instructed:

"Crossing directly across is not an offense."

From this day forward the rule shall be stated thus:

Whatever monk, by prior arrangement, travels together with a nun on a boat, going upstream or downstream on the water — except for crossing directly across — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Nun: as explained above.

By prior arrangement: as above.

Boat: as explained previously above.

If any monk, by prior arrangement, travels together with a nun on a boat, going upstream or downstream on the water — except for crossing directly across — if he boards the boat: pācittiya. If one foot is in the boat and one foot is still on the ground, or if he intends to board but does not board, or if he has made an arrangement and prepared his belongings — all of these are offenses of dukkaṭa.

For a nun: dukkaṭa. For a sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī: dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if there is no prior arrangement; or if crossing directly across to the far bank (a ferry crossing); or if he has boarded the boat and the boatman loses his way and must travel upstream or downstream on the water; or if he arrives safely at the far bank; or if he is taken by force, or is bound, or there is danger to life, or danger to the brahmacarya — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits an offense for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, of disturbed mind, or afflicted and overcome by pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. FOUR-PART VINAYA, PART ONE

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee 2002