Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 85Not Live Upstairs of a Stupa

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-KARAṆĪYA

RULE 85

At one time, the Buddha was in the land of Kosala, traveling along the road toward the village of the Brahmin Duziba. At that time, the group of six monks placed a Buddha stupa in the lower room and themselves dwelt in the upper room.

The monks knew of this; among them were those of few desires and contentment, who lived the dhūta practices, were fond of training in the precepts, and knew shame and remorse. Having reproached the group of six monks, they went to the presence of the Blessed One, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported the full account of this matter to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of monks and rebuked the group of six monks… up to the words: "From this day forward, I shall establish the precept for the monks, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to the words: so that the true Dharma may long endure."

To recite the precept, it should be spoken thus:

One must not place a Buddha stupa in the lower story and oneself dwell in the upper story — this is a śaikṣa-karaṇīya.

A monk who intentionally places a Buddha stupa in the lower story and himself dwells in the upper story commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper deportment. If it is not done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta.

A bhikṣuṇī, and likewise a śrāmaṇera or śrāmaṇerī — duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one is afflicted by some illness; or if there is danger to one's life or danger to one's brahmacarya, and one has invited the Buddha stupa to be placed in the lower room while oneself stays in the upper room — there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who offends for the first time before the precept has been established; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted and overwhelmed 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 and 2)

Buddhist Studies Publication Committee, 2002.