Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 48Washing Water With Rice

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– SEKHIYA RULES

RULE 48

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a group of six bhikkhus, having finished eating at a lay person's home, washed their bowls and poured out the washing water, which contained leftover food, carelessly onto the ground. A lay person saw this and reproached them, saying: "The Śākyan ascetics have no shame… (and so forth) … they receive so much food like those who are starving and thirsty, only to discard it carelessly like a Great Minister of the King!"

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few desires, contentment, and who practiced the austere disciplines, who were fond of training in the precepts, and who knew shame and remorse. They reproached [the group of six] … and then 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 matter to assemble the community of bhikkhus and reproached the group of six bhikkhus … as above, up to the passage: "From now on I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus comprising ten points of meaning, up to the lasting preservation of the true Dharma."

Wishing to recite the rule, it should be spoken thus:

One should not pour bowl-washing water inside the home of those who wear white robes — this is a sekhiya rule.

Bowl-washing water: here this means water mixed with rice and leftover food.

If a bhikkhu intentionally pours bowl-washing water inside the home of those who wear white robes, he commits a dukkhaṭa offense requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a dukkhaṭa offense of improper conduct. If it is not done intentionally, he commits a dukkhaṭa offense.

Bhikkhunīs, down to novice monks, novice nuns — dukkhaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if there is some illness, or if one is washing trays or tables and then collects that water and takes it outside to pour it out — there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who commits an offense for the first time before the rule has been laid down, one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or in severe pain and distress.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. FOUR-PART 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 Publication Committee, 2002