Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 51While Standing

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-KARAṆĪYA

RULE 51

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the land of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus urinated and defecated while standing. Laypeople saw this and reproached them, saying: "These Śākyan ascetics have no sense of shame. They outwardly claim, 'We know the true Dharma.' Yet what sort of Dharma is this? To urinate and defecate while standing — just like cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, and camels."

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who lived the austere practices, were fond of training in the precepts, and had a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhus (…) and then went to the place where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, sat to one side, and fully reported this matter to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus … as before, up to the words: "From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, consisting of ten principles, up to the words: so that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be recited as follows:

One must not urinate or defecate while standing — śaikṣa-karaṇīya.

The Blessed One having thus laid down this rule for the bhikkhus, at that time there was a bhikkhu who was ill and unable to sit to urinate or defecate due to exhaustion. The Buddha instructed:

"One who is ill does not commit an offense."

From this day forward, the precept should be recited as follows:

One must not urinate or defecate while standing, except in case of illness — śaikṣa-karaṇīya.

If a bhikkhu intentionally urinates or defecates while standing, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he offends against proper conduct — a duṣkṛta. If it is not intentional, he commits a duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one has such an illness, or is bound and restrained, or the place where one is standing is soiled with filth and mud — there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the act for the first time before the rule was established, one who is mentally deranged, one whose mind is disturbed, or one who is overcome and oppressed 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 by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002