Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 86Needle Cases

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

86. NEEDLE CASES

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling on Mount Gijjhakūṭa in the city of Rājagaha. At that time, there was a craftsman who was devoted to the Buddha-Dharma. Because he made needle cases for the bhikkhus from various materials such as bone, tooth, and horn, this craftsman neglected the livelihood of his household, his wealth became exhausted, and he had insufficient food and clothing.

At that time, people everywhere said: "Before this craftsman made offerings to the śramaṇas, sons of the Śākyas, his wealth was abundant. But since he has been making offerings to the śramaṇas, sons of the Śākyas, his household has fallen into poverty, without food to eat. He made offerings in the hope of gaining merit, yet has only met with misfortune!"

The bhikkhus heard of this. Among them, those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta virtues, delighted in training in the precepts, and knew shame, reproved the other bhikkhus: "Why have you caused the craftsman to make needle cases from bone, ivory, and horn to the point that he has neglected his work and his wealth has been exhausted?"

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

"What you have done is wrong, unbecoming, not in accordance with the deportment of a śramaṇa, not the pure conduct, not proper behavior—it is something that should not be done. Bhikkhus, why have you caused a craftsman to make needle cases from bone, ivory, and horn to the point that his wealth has been exhausted?"

The Blessed One rebuked the bhikkhus in countless ways, and then said to them:

"These foolish men are a field where many seeds of the āsavas are planted; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles, up to and including the phrase: so that the true Dharma may long endure."

The rule should be stated thus:

Whatever bhikkhu causes needle cases to be made from bone, tooth, or horn—by hollowing out and fashioning them—commits a pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhu: as defined above.

If a bhikkhu himself hollows out bone, ivory, or horn to make a needle case and completes it, he commits a pācittiya; if he does not complete it, he commits a dukkaṭa. If he instructs another to make it and it is completed, he commits a pācittiya; if not completed, a dukkaṭa. If he makes it on behalf of another, whether completed or not, he commits a dukkaṭa.

A bhikkhunī: dukkaṭa. A sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, a sāmaṇerī: dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: If one makes a needle case from iron, copper, lead, tin, white wax, bamboo, wood, reed, or kusa grass, there is no offense. Likewise, making a tip to cap the end of a staff, making a tip to cap the handle of an umbrella, making a tip to cap the handle of a ladle, making a hook for hanging, making an instrument for scraping away dirt, making a back-scratcher, making button loops, a spoon, a ladle handle, a robe hook, an eye-drop applicator, a tongue scraper, a toothpick, an ear pick, a meditation support, or a nasal insufflation tube—making any of these miscellaneous implements, there is no offense.

Non-offenders: one who commits the offense for the first time before the rule has been laid down, one who is insane, one whose mind is disturbed, one who is afflicted with pain and is under duress.

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002