Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 88Itch Bandage

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

88. COVERING-SORE ROBE

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, certain bhikkhus were afflicted with the disease of sores and boils. Various kinds of sores broke out, and blood and pus flowed, soiling their bodies, their robes, and their bedding. The bhikkhus came and reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha instructed:

"From now on, I permit bhikkhus to keep a robe for covering sores."

The bhikkhus obtained robes for covering sores made of coarse cloth, and much fluff stuck to the sores; when it was pulled away they suffered pain. The bhikkhus reported this to the Buddha, and the Buddha instructed:

"From now on, I permit bhikkhus to use fine, soft, and expensive cloth to make a robe for covering sores, and then to wear the nivāsana over it. If, when visiting a layperson's home, one is invited to sit, one should say: 'I have sores.' If the host says: 'Please be seated,' then lift up the nivāsana, spread this robe over the sores, and then sit down."

At that time, the group of six bhikkhus, hearing that the Blessed One had permitted the making of a robe for covering sores, proceeded to make many such robes, both long and wide. Other bhikkhus saw this and asked:

"The Blessed One has laid down a rule permitting only three robes to be kept, and no more. Whose robes are these?"

The group of six bhikkhus said:

"These are our robes for covering sores!"

The bhikkhus, upon hearing this, reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why have you made so many robes for covering sores, so long and so wide?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, sat to one side, and fully reported this matter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this, convened an assembly of the Saṅgha 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 practice of a śramaṇa, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with harmonious behavior—it is something that should not be done. Why have you made many robes for covering sores, so long and so wide?"

The Blessed One rebuked the group of six bhikkhus with numerous expedient means, and then said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish men are a field for planting many seeds of the āsavas, and they are the first to transgress this rule. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles, for the sake of the long endurance of the true Dharma."

The rule to be recited is as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu makes a robe for covering sores, it must be made to the proper measure. The proper measure here is: four spans in length and two spans in width by the Buddha's hand, after cutting. If it exceeds this, pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

Robe for covering sores: a robe used to cover the body when there are various kinds of sores.

If the length is within the proper measure but the width is not; or if the length is not within the proper measure but the width is; or if both the length and the width are not within the proper measure—if one makes it oneself and it is completed, pācittiya; if it is not completed, duṣkṛta. If one instructs another to make it and it is completed, pācittiya; if not completed, duṣkṛta. If one makes it for another, whether completed or not, one incurs duṣkṛta.

For a bhikkhunī, duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, and a śrāmaṇerī, duṣkṛta. These are called transgressions.

Non-offense: making it to the proper measure or smaller; or receiving it from another and cutting and making it to the proper measure; or making it doubled into two layers—all of these are without offense.

Those without offense: the first offender at the time before the rule was laid down; one who is insane; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is overwhelmed by pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka master Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Committee, 2002