Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 71Legitimate Correction

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

71. REFUSING TO TRAIN IN THE PRECEPTS

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Ghosita Park in the country of Kosambī. At that time, the bhikkhu Channa, when admonished by other bhikkhus in accordance with the Dharma, said: "I will not train in this precept now. I will first go and question other wise, Vinaya-holding bhikkhus."

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic disciplines, were fond of training in the precepts, and were possessed of a sense of shame and remorse. They reproached the bhikkhu Channa: "Why, when the bhikkhus admonish you in accordance with the Dharma, do you say, 'I will not train in this precept now; I must first go and question other wise, Vinaya-holding bhikkhus'?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, sat to one side, and reported this matter fully to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked the bhikkhu Channa:

"What you have done is wrong, improper in conduct, not in accordance with the way of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not proper behavior—something that should not be done. Bhikkhu Channa, why is it that when the bhikkhus admonish you in accordance with the Dharma, you say, 'I will not train in this precept now; I must first go and question other wise, Vinaya-holding bhikkhus'?"

Having rebuked the bhikkhu Channa with numerous methods of instruction, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"This foolish one is a field that cultivates many defiled seeds; he is the first to transgress this precept. From this time forward, I shall lay down this precept for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the purpose that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu, when admonished by other bhikkhus in accordance with the Dharma, speaks thus: 'I will not train in this precept now; I will first go and question other wise, Vinaya-holding bhikkhus'—pācittiya. If it is for the purpose of understanding or for the purpose of learning, then one may question.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhu: the meaning is as above.

In accordance with the Dharma: meaning in accordance with the Dharma, in accordance with the Vinaya, in accordance with the Buddha's teaching.

If that bhikkhu admonishes this bhikkhu in accordance with the Dharma, and this bhikkhu says: "I will not train in this precept now. I will go and question other wise, Vinaya-holding bhikkhus"—if spoken clearly, it is a pācittiya offense; if spoken indistinctly, it is a dukkaṭa offense.

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

Non-offense: If the bhikkhu who admonishes is foolish and does not understand clearly, this bhikkhu may say: "Go and ask your preceptor and your ācārya first. You should study and learn further, and recite the suttas further." Or if it is in fact truly the case. Or if spoken in jest, spoken hastily, spoken to oneself, spoken in a dream, or if intending to say one thing but mistakenly saying another—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 laid down; one who is insane; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted with 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.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002