Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 20Lowered Eyes

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚIKṢĀKARAṆĪYA

RULE 20

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six monks was glancing about on both sides when entering the homes of laypeople. Laypeople who saw this criticized them, saying: "These Śākyan monastics are without shame. They receive without knowing satisfaction. They outwardly claim, 'I know the true Dharma.' What Dharma is there in this? Like thieves watching for an opportunity, they glance about on both sides when entering the homes of laypeople."

The monks who heard this—among them those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic disciplines, were fond of training in the precepts, and who felt shame—rebuked the group of six monks: "Why do you glance about on both sides when entering the homes of laypeople?"

The monks went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported this matter to the Blessed One in full. Using this matter as occasion, the Blessed One assembled the community of monks and rebuked 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 fitting behavior—it is doing what should not be done. Why do you glance about on both sides when entering the homes of laypeople?"

At that time, after the Blessed One had rebuked them with numerous skillful means, he said to the monks:

"These foolish men are a field for sowing many defiled seeds; they are the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the monks, with ten purposes, up to and including the purpose of causing the true Dharma to endure long."

The rule should be stated as follows:

One should not glance about on both sides when entering the homes of laypeople—this is a śikṣākaraṇīya.

Monk: as defined above.

Home of a layperson: a place in a village or settlement.

Glancing about on both sides: looking around in all directions.

If a monk deliberately glances about on both sides when entering the home of a layperson, he commits a duṣkṛta offense requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta offense of improper conduct. If it is done unintentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta offense.

For a bhikṣuṇī: duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one is suffering from such an illness; or if one looks upward to observe the weather; or if, in a situation of danger to life or danger to the brahmacarya, one must look in all directions to find a way of escape—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: the first offender before the rule was laid down, one who is mentally deranged, one whose mind is disturbed, one who is afflicted and oppressed by pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikṣu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA 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 Publication Committee, 2002.