Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 50In Water

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-DHARMA

RULE 50

Once, the Buddha was staying in the Anāthapiṇḍika garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus defecated, urinated, and spat in the water. Laypeople who saw this reproached them, saying: "These Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame. They claim that they know the true Dharma, yet what Dharma is there in this? Defecating and urinating in the water—they are just like pigs, dogs, cattle, camels, and donkeys."

The bhikkhus heard of this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic way, delighted in training in the precepts, and knew a sense of shame; they rebuked the group of six bhikkhus (…) and then went to where the Blessed One was, prostrated at his feet, and sat to one side, reporting this matter fully to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Bhikkhu Saṅgha and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus… as above, up to the passage: "From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, encompassing ten beneficial purposes, up to the purpose that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be proclaimed thus:

One must not defecate, urinate, or spit in water — this is a śaikṣa-dharma.

The Blessed One laid down this rule for the bhikkhus in this way. At that time there were sick bhikkhus for whom it was somewhat difficult to go away from the water in order to defecate, urinate, and spit. The Buddha instructed:

"Those who are ill do not commit an offense."

From this day forward, the precept should be proclaimed thus:

One must not defecate, urinate, or spit in water — except in case of illness — this is a śaikṣa-dharma.

If a bhikkhu intentionally defecates, urinates, or spits in water, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If it is unintentional, he commits a duṣkṛta.

Bhikkhunīs, down to śrāmaṇeras and śrāmaṇerīs — duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one has such an illness, or if one defecates or urinates on the bank of a river and it falls into the stream, or if it is blown in by the wind, or carried by a bird in its beak and dropped into the water — there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the act for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is mentally deranged, of disturbed mind, or afflicted and overwhelmed by pain.

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 Publication Committee, 2002