Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 73Deception

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

73. THE PRECEPT ON FEIGNED IGNORANCE

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. A certain bhikkhu among the group of six, while the Prātimokṣa was being recited, committed an offense and was himself aware that he had committed an offense. Fearing that a pure bhikkhu would discover and raise the matter, he went before the pure bhikkhu and said:

"Only now do I know that this rule is recorded in the precept scripture, recited once every fortnight, being drawn from the precept scripture."

The bhikkhus discerned that this was a case of one of the group of six, while the Prātimokṣa was being recited, committing an offense, being himself fully aware of his offense, and yet, fearing that a pure bhikkhu would discover and raise it, going before the pure bhikkhu and saying: "Only now do I know that this rule is recorded in the precept scripture, recited once every fortnight, being drawn from the precept scripture."

Among the bhikkhus who heard of this, those who were of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic rules, who loved the training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame and remorse, reproved the group of six bhikkhus: "How could you, when the Prātimokṣa was being recited, commit an offense, being yourselves fully aware of your offense, and yet, fearing that a pure bhikkhu would discover and raise it, go before the pure bhikkhu and say: 'Only now do I know that this rule is recorded in the precept scripture, recited once every fortnight, being drawn from the precept scripture'?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side; they then reported this matter to the Blessed One in full. The Blessed One thereupon, on account of this matter, assembled the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the Dharma of a śramaṇa, not in accordance with pure practice, not in accordance with proper behavior — it is something that ought not to be done. Why is it that when the precepts were being recited, knowing yourselves to have committed an offense, fearing that a pure bhikkhu would discover and raise it, you went before the pure bhikkhu and said: 'Only now do I know that this rule is recorded in the precept scripture, recited once every fortnight, being drawn from the precept scripture'?"

At that time, the Blessed One, having reproached with many expedient means one of the group of six bhikkhus, addressed the bhikkhus:

"This foolish person is a ground in which many defiled seeds are sown; he is the first to commit this offense. From this time forward, I shall establish a precept for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'so that the true Dharma may long endure.'"

The precept should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu, when the Prātimokṣa is being recited, says: "Only now do I know that this rule is recorded in the precept scripture, recited once every fortnight, being drawn from the precept scripture" — and the other bhikkhus know that this bhikkhu has not merely sat through two or three but many recitations of the Prātimokṣa — such a bhikkhu cannot claim ignorance. If he has committed an offense, he should be dealt with according to the Dharma, and furthermore the offense of feigned ignorance shall be additionally imposed upon him, with the words: "Venerable sir, it is truly of no benefit and no good attainment for you, since when the precepts were being recited you did not apply your mind in reflection,

nor with single-mindedness collected your thoughts to listen to the Dharma." As for that one, being ignorant, it is a pācittiya.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRECEPT

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

That bhikkhu: when he himself is reciting the Prātimokṣa, or when another is reciting it, or when the precepts are being chanted, says: "Venerable sir, only now do I know that this rule is recorded in the precept scripture, recited once every fortnight, being drawn from the precept scripture" — and the bhikkhus know that this bhikkhu has not merely attended two or three but many Uposatha assemblies — such a bhikkhu cannot claim ignorance.

In accordance with whatever offense has been committed, he should be dealt with according to the Dharma, and furthermore the offense of feigned ignorance shall additionally be imposed, with the words: "Venerable sir, it is truly of no benefit and no good attainment for you, since when the precepts were being recited you did not skillfully apply your mind in reflection, nor with single-mindedness listen to the Dharma." Because of feigned ignorance, the additional formal act shall be imposed; it is a pācittiya.

If the formal act is not carried out, that bhikkhu incurs a duṣkṛta.

A bhikkhunī: pācittiya. A śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, a śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if the person has never before heard the precepts recited and now hears them for the first time; or has never heard them recited in full and now hears them so; or speaks in jest; or speaks hastily; or speaks to oneself; or speaks in a dream; or intending to speak of one matter inadvertently speaks of another — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who commits the act for the first time before the precept has been established; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted with pain; one who is under duress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002.