Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 74Criticizing Robe Distribution

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

74. REPUDIATING A FORMAL ACT

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling on Mount Gijjhakūṭa, in the city of Rājagaha. At that time, the Venerable Bhikkhu Dabbamallaputta had been appointed by the Saṅgha to be in charge of assigning beds, seats, and sleeping furnishings for the Saṅgha, and to distribute food. The Venerable was occupied with the affairs of the Saṅgha and the affairs of the stūpa, and therefore did not have leisure to attend the charitable ceremonies held by householders outside—on occasions of building a new monastery, building a new room, digging a new pond, or digging a new well. On account of this, the Venerable's robes became tattered, soiled, and unclean.

One day, someone offered the Saṅgha a valuable robe. The Saṅgha conferred among themselves, saying: "The Venerable Bhikkhu Dabbamallaputta has been appointed by the Saṅgha to be in charge of assigning beds, seats, and sleeping furnishings for the Saṅgha, and to distribute food. He is occupied with the affairs of the Saṅgha and the affairs of the stūpa, and therefore has no leisure to attend the charitable ceremonies held by householders outside—on occasions of building a new monastery, building a new room, digging a new pond, or digging a new well. On account of this, his robes have become tattered, soiled, and unclean. We should present this robe to him."

The Saṅgha then, after performing a formal act by a motion and one recitation (ñattidutiykamma), presented the robe to the Venerable.

During the performance of the formal act, the group of six bhikkhus was also present in the assembly. After the robe had been presented to the Venerable, the group of six bhikkhus said:

"These bhikkhus, on account of their personal acquaintance, took the Saṅgha's property and gave it away."

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them those who were of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic practices, who loved the training, and who had a sense of shame, criticized the group of six bhikkhus, saying:

"How can you, having been present in the assembly during the formal act by which the robe was given to that one, afterward say: 'The bhikkhus, on account of their personal acquaintance, took the Saṅgha's property and gave it away'?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, sat down to one side, and fully reported this matter 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 a samaṇa, not pure conduct, not proper behavior—something that should not be done. How is it that you gathered together in one place and performed the formal act to present the robe to that one, yet after the robe had been presented, you said: 'The bhikkhus, on account of their personal acquaintance, took the Saṅgha's property and gave it away'?"

The Blessed One rebuked the group of six bhikkhus by means of countless skillful methods, and then said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish ones are a field in which many defiled seeds are planted; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, based on ten purposes, up to the purpose of causing the true Dharma to endure long."

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu, having participated in a formal act, then says: "The bhikkhus, on account of personal favoritism, took the Saṅgha's property and gave it away"—pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

Personal favoritism: sharing the same preceptor, sharing the same teacher; eating together, living together, conversing together, or being in close association with one another.

Saṅgha's property: as explained above.

Property: robes, bowls, needle cases, sitting cloths, down to drinking vessels.

If that bhikkhu, having previously participated together with the Saṅgha in a formal act, afterward feels regret and says: "The bhikkhus, on account of personal favoritism, took the Saṅgha's property and gave it to their favorites"—if stated clearly, it is a pācittiya; if stated unclearly, it is a dukkaṭa.

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

Non-offense: if the matter is truly as stated—that the Saṅgha's property was taken and given to one's acquaintances—then speaking of it is not an offense. Or if one speaks in jest, speaks hastily, speaks to oneself, speaks in a dream, or intends to say one thing but mistakenly says another—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those free from offense: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been promulgated; one who is insane, of disturbed mind, or one who is afflicted and overcome by pain.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Edited and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002