Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 14Swaying

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-DHARMA

RULE 14

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a group of six bhikkhus entered the houses of white-robed laypeople while swaying their bodies. The lay householders saw this and, feeling disdain, said: "These Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame. They receive without knowing moderation. Outwardly they claim, 'I know the true Dharma.' What kind of true Dharma is this? Entering the houses of white-robed laypeople while swaying their bodies—just like kings and high ministers!"

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic way, delighted in training in the precepts, and felt a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why do you sway your bodies when entering the houses of white-robed laypeople?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They fully reported this matter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One used this occasion to convene the assembly of bhikkhus and reproached the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong—it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not harmonious behavior. You have done what should not be done. Why do you sway your bodies when entering the houses of white-robed laypeople?"

Thereupon the Blessed One, having reproached them with numerous skillful means, said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish men are a fertile ground for many defiling tendencies, and they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall establish a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the purpose of enabling the true Dharma to endure long."

The rule should be stated thus:

One should not sway the body when entering the houses of white-robed laypeople—this is a śaikṣa-dharma.

Bhikkhu: the meaning is as above.

House of white-robed laypeople: likewise, the meaning is as above.

Swaying: tilting the body to the left and right while walking.

If a bhikkhu deliberately sways his body, tilting it to the left and right while walking and entering the houses of white-robed laypeople, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done with deliberate intention, it constitutes a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If it is not done with deliberate intention, it is only a duṣkṛta.

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

Non-offense: if one is afflicted with such an illness; or if one is struck by a person and must lean aside to avoid the blow; or if a fierce elephant approaches; or if one is attacked by bandits, a lion, or a dangerous animal; or if one encounters a person carrying thorns—in all such cases one must lean aside to avoid. Or when wading across a pit, a ditch, or a muddy pool, it is necessary to tilt the body in order to pass through. Or when putting on a robe, one turns and tilts the body to see whether the robe is even, whether it hangs too high or too low, whether it hangs like an elephant's trunk, whether it hangs like a palm leaf, or whether it is folded too small—for these reasons one must turn the body to look. In all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted with severe 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: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002