Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 18Well-Covered

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– ŚIKṢĀKARAṆĪYA

RULE 18

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the land of Śrāvastī. At that time, a group of six monks entered the homes of laypeople without properly covering their bodies. The laypeople saw this and reproached them, saying: "These Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame. They receive without knowing satisfaction. They outwardly proclaim, 'I know the true Dharma.' Yet what Dharma is there in this? They enter the homes of laypeople with their robes not properly covering their bodies, just like brahmins."

The monks heard this, and among them were those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic disciplines, were fond of training in the precepts, and who knew shame and remorse. They reproved the group of six monks: "Why did you enter the homes of laypeople without properly covering your bodies?"

The monks went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, then sat to one side and reported this matter fully to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of monks and reproached the group of six monks:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a monastic, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior; it is doing what ought not to be done. Why did you enter the homes of laypeople without properly covering your bodies with your robes?"

At that time, the Blessed One, having reproached them with countless skillful means, said to the monks:

"These foolish men are a fertile ground for many defiling tendencies; they are the first to commit this transgression. From this day forward, I shall establish a rule for the monks, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the principle that the true Dharma may endure for a long time."

Wishing to recite the precept, it should be recited thus:

One must cover the body properly when entering the homes of laypeople — this is a śikṣākaraṇīya.

Monk: as explained above.

Home of a layperson: that is, a village or settlement.

Not properly covering the body: means being exposed in front and exposed behind.

If a monk intentionally fails to properly cover his body when entering the home of a layperson, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done with deliberate intent, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If done with deliberate intent, he commits only a duṣkṛta.

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

Non-offense: if one is ill in such a manner; or if one is bound, or if the wind blows the robe away from the body — in these cases there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who commits the act for the first time before the rule has been established, one who is mentally deranged, one whose mind is disturbed, one who is afflicted and tormented by pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikṣu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. FOUR-PART VINAYA, PART ONE.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikṣu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Editorial Board, 2002.