Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 60Making Stains

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

60. SPOILING THE COLOR OF A NEW ROBE

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Blessed One was staying at the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus went about wearing white robes. The laypeople all expressed disapproval: "These Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame or modesty. They receive and make use of things without knowing satisfaction. Outwardly they claim: 'I practice the true Dharma.' But what kind of true Dharma is this? Why do they go about wearing new white garments, just like a King or a King's Minister?"

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few wishes and contentment, who lived the ascetic practices, were fond of training in the precepts, and had a sense of shame and modesty; they reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why do you go about wearing new white robes?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat down to one side. They reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened the assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the deportment of monastics, not in accordance with the Dharma of śramaṇas, not a pure practice, not a fitting conduct — it is something that should not be done. Group of six bhikkhus, why do you go about wearing white garments?"

Having rebuked the group of six bhikkhus with countless skillful means, the Blessed One then said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish ones are a field that plants many seeds of the āsravas; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall set forth the precept for the bhikkhus, comprised of ten meaningful purposes, up to and including the purpose that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu, having received a new robe, makes use of any one of three colors — either blue-green, black, or madder — to spoil the color; if he does not spoil the color with one of the three — either blue-green, black, or blue — but wears the robe while it is still new, it is a pācittiya.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

New: a new robe, or one newly received from a person — both are called a new robe.

Robe: there are ten types, as stated previously.

Spoiling the color: dyeing it to become blue-green, black, or madder.

If that bhikkhu receives a new robe and does not dye it to produce the three spoiled colors — blue-green, black, or madder — and wears the new robe in a different color, it is a pācittiya. If one keeps a double robe without making it acceptable, it is a dukkaṭa. Keeping a single robe without making it acceptable is a dukkaṭa. If it is not a robe — such as a robe-and-bowl bag, a bag for sandals, a needle-and-thread bag, a meditation cord, a waist cord, a cap, stockings, foot-wrappings, a wiping cloth, or a cloth for wrapping footwear — storing any of these without making them acceptable is a dukkaṭa. If one entrusts an undyed robe to the household of a layperson, it is a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhunī, it is a pācittiya. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī, it is a dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: If one receives a white robe and dyes it with any of the three colors — blue-green, black, or madder. A double robe or single robe that has been made acceptable and is then stored. If items that are not robe-and-bowl bags, up to and including cloths for wrapping footwear, have all been made acceptable before being stored; or if a robe has been dyed before being entrusted to a layperson's household; or if a robe whose dye has faded is re-dyed — in all these cases there is no offense.

Those without offense: the first offender when the precept had not yet been established; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or afflicted with severe pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revision and annotations: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002.