Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 70Obstructions and a Novice

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

70. SHELTERING A EXPELLED NOVICE

A. ORIGIN OF THE RULE

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, had two novices; the first was named Kaṇha, and the second was named Mahaugha. These two, being without shame, committed an impure act together. They said to each other: "We have heard a teaching from the Buddha, stating that the practice of sexual intercourse is not a dharma that obstructs the path."

The bhikkhus heard of this, and among them were those who were of few desires and contentment, who lived the austere practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, who knew shame, and they reproached the two novices, saying:

"Why do you say to each other, 'The teaching I heard from the Buddha states that practicing sexual intercourse is not a dharma that obstructs the path'?"

The bhikkhus went to the place of the Blessed One, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side; then they reported this matter fully to the Blessed One. The Blessed One thereupon, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and reproached the two novices:

"What you have done is wrong; it is not proper conduct, not the dharma of a śramaṇa, not pure practice, not a harmonious act — it is something that should not be done. Why do you say to each other that the teaching you heard from the Blessed One states that practicing sexual intercourse is not a dharma that obstructs the path?"

After the Blessed One had reproached the two novices by means of countless expedient teachings, he said to the bhikkhus:

"Henceforth, the Saṅgha should administer to these two novices the dharma of formal admonition to cause them to abandon this matter, by means of the formal act of proclamation with three repetitions, carried out as follows: Have the two novices stand before the Saṅgha, within sight but out of earshot. Appoint from the assembly one who is capable of performing the formal act, and let him make the proclamation based on the above matter:

"'Venerable Saṅgha, please listen. Those two novices have said to each other: "I have heard a teaching from the Buddha stating that practicing sexual intercourse is not a dharma that obstructs the path." If it is now the proper time for the Saṅgha, and the Saṅgha approves, let the Saṅgha rebuke those two novices to cause them to abandon this matter — namely: "Novices! Do not speak thus. Do not misrepresent the Blessed One. To misrepresent the Blessed One is not good. The Blessed One did not say such a thing. Novices, the Blessed One has by means of countless expedient teachings declared that practicing sexual intercourse is a dharma that obstructs the path."' This is the proclamation.

"'Venerable Saṅgha, please listen. Those two novices have said to each other: "The teaching I heard from the Blessed One states that practicing sexual intercourse is not a dharma that obstructs the path." Now the Saṅgha performs the formal act of admonition and rebuke of those two novices in order that they abandon this matter — namely: "Novices! Do not speak thus.

Do not misrepresent the Blessed One. To misrepresent the Blessed One is not good. The Blessed One did not say such a thing.

Novices, the Blessed One has by means of countless expedient teachings declared that practicing sexual intercourse is a dharma that obstructs the path." Those elders who approve of the Saṅgha now rebuking those two novices to cause them to abandon this matter, please remain silent. Those who do not approve, please speak. This is the first formal act of proclamation.'" (The second and third are stated in the same manner.)

"'The Saṅgha has approved the rebuking of these two novices. Since the Saṅgha approves, it remains silent. So it is recorded.'"

Those two novices, having been rebuked by the Saṅgha, nonetheless deliberately refused to abandon this matter.

The bhikkhus heard of this, and among them were those who were of few desires and contentment, who lived the austere practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, who knew shame and remorse, and they reproached the two novices: "Why, having been rebuked by the Saṅgha, do you still deliberately refuse to abandon your wrong view?"

The bhikkhus went to the place of the Blessed One, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side; then they reported this matter fully to the Blessed One. The Blessed One thereupon, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and reproached the two novices:

"What you have done is wrong; it is not proper conduct, not the dharma of a śramaṇa, not pure practice, not a harmonious act — it is something that should not be done. You two novices — why, having been rebuked by the Saṅgha, do you not abandon your wrong view?"

After the Blessed One had reproached the two novices by means of countless expedient teachings, he said to the bhikkhus:

"The Saṅgha should administer to these two novices the dharma of expulsion for refusing to abandon their wrong view, by means of the formal act of proclamation with three repetitions, carried out as follows:

"Bring the two novices before the assembly and have them stand within sight but out of earshot. Appoint from the assembly one who is capable of performing the formal act, and let him make the proclamation based on the above matter as follows:

"'Venerable Saṅgha, please listen. These two novices, having been rebuked by the Saṅgha, still deliberately refuse to abandon their wrong view. If it is now the proper time for the Saṅgha, and the Saṅgha approves, let the Saṅgha now perform the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view. Henceforth these two novices may not say: "The Buddha is my Blessed One." They may not follow along with the bhikkhus. Just as other novices are permitted to sleep two or three nights with bhikkhus, these two are not permitted this. They must depart and should not remain here.' This is the proclamation.

"'Venerable Saṅgha, please listen. These two novices, having been rebuked by the Saṅgha, still deliberately refuse to abandon their wrong view. Now the Saṅgha performs the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view.

Henceforth these two novices may not say: "The Buddha is my Blessed One." They may not follow along with the bhikkhus. Just as other novices are permitted to sleep two or three nights with bhikkhus, these two are no longer permitted this. They must leave this place and may not remain here.

Those elders who approve of the Saṅgha performing the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view, please remain silent. Those who do not approve, please speak. This is the first formal act of proclamation.'" (The second and third are stated in the same manner.)

"'The Saṅgha has approved performing the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view. Since the Saṅgha approves, it remains silent. So it is recorded.'"

At that time, the group of six bhikkhus, knowing that the Saṅgha had performed the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view, nonetheless enticed them back, provided for them, and slept with them overnight.

The bhikkhus heard of this, and among them were those who were of few desires and contentment, who lived the austere practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, who knew shame, and they reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why, knowing that the Saṅgha had performed the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view, do you still entice them back, provide for them, and sleep with them?"

The bhikkhus went to the place of the Blessed One, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side; then they reported this matter fully to the Blessed One. The Blessed One thereupon, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and reproached the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong; it is not proper conduct, not the dharma of a śramaṇa, not pure practice, not a harmonious act — it is something that should not be done. Why, knowing that the Saṅgha had performed the formal act of expulsion upon these two novices for refusing to abandon their wrong view, did you entice them back, provide for them, and sleep with them?"

After the Blessed One had reproached the group of six bhikkhus by means of countless expedient teachings, he said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish persons are a field in which many defiled seeds are sown; they are the first to transgress this precept. Henceforth I shall establish a precept for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles, up to and including the principle that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated as follows:

Should any novice say: "I have heard a teaching from the Blessed One stating that the practice of sexual intercourse is not a dharma that obstructs the path" — the bhikkhus should admonish that novice thus: "Do not speak thus; do not misrepresent the Blessed One — to misrepresent the Blessed One is not good! The Blessed One did not say such a thing; the Blessed One has by means of countless expedient teachings declared that the practice of sexual intercourse is a dharma that obstructs the path." When the bhikkhus have so admonished him and that novice still resolutely refuses to abandon it, the bhikkhus should admonish him up to three times in order to cause him to abandon the matter.

If after three admonitions he abandons it, that is well; if he does not abandon it, that bhikkhu should say to the novice: "Henceforth you may not say: 'The Buddha is my Blessed One.' You may not follow along with other bhikkhus. Other novices are permitted to sleep two or three nights with bhikkhus, but you are no longer permitted this. You must leave this place and should not remain here any longer." If a bhikkhu, knowing that a novice has been expelled from the community in this manner, still takes him in, provides for him, and sleeps with him — pācittiya.

The Blessed One established this precept for the bhikkhus in this manner. Those two novices, having been expelled from the city, went outside the village to seek lodging; but having also been expelled from outside the city, they came back inside the city to seek lodging. The bhikkhus did not know whether those persons had been expelled or not; afterward they came to know they had been expelled, and either they performed the act of confession for pācittiya, or they were in doubt. The Buddha instructed:

"If one does not know, there is no offense."

From now on, the rule should be stated thus:

Should any bhikkhu, knowing that a novice has spoken thus: "I have heard the Dharma from the Buddha, who said: 'Engaging in sexual intercourse is not a Dharma that obstructs the path'"—the bhikkhus should admonish that novice thus: "Do not misrepresent the Blessed One; misrepresenting the Blessed One is not good. The Blessed One did not say that. Novice, the Blessed One, using countless skillful means, declared that engaging in sexual intercourse is a Dharma that obstructs the path." If, when the bhikkhus admonish that novice, he still persists and does not desist, the bhikkhus should admonish him up to three times so that he abandons this matter.

If upon three admonitions he desists, that is good; if he does not desist, the bhikkhus should say to that novice: "From now on, you may not say: 'The Buddha is my Blessed One.' You may not follow other bhikkhus. Other novices are permitted to sleep two or three nights together with a bhikkhu, but you are no longer granted that permission. You must leave this place and should no longer remain here." If a bhikkhu, knowing that a novice has been expelled from the community in this manner, still entices him, takes him in, provides for him, or sleeps together with him—pācittiya.

B. THE ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

Expelled: the Sangha performs the act of white-and-fourfold kammavācā to expel him.

Provides for: either providing for him oneself, or having another provide for him.

Entices: either enticing him oneself, or directing another to entice him.

Sleeps together: as stated previously.

If a bhikkhu enters and sleeps first and the expelled person arrives afterward; or if the expelled person enters first and the bhikkhu arrives afterward; or if both arrive together—in accordance with the side touching the mat, each turning over—pācittiya.

For a bhikkhunī, pācittiya. For a sikkhamānā, a novice monk, or a novice nun, dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one did not know beforehand; or if the bhikkhu arrived first and the expelled person arrived afterward and the bhikkhu did not know. Or if the dwelling is open on all four sides, with no partition but with a roof overhead… (and so forth)—in an open space, there is no offense. Or if one is struck by a seizure and falls to the ground, or is moved by illness, or is seized and bound by force, or in cases of danger to life or danger to the holy life—there is no offense.

Those free from offense: one who commits an offense for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally deranged, 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.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002