Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 93Not Interlace Hands While Travelling

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-DHARMA

RULE 93

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus were interlacing their hands together while walking along the road, or blocking other men and women from passing. The lay people saw this and reproached them, saying: "The Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame. Outwardly they claim: 'We know the true Dharma,' yet they walk along the road holding hands with one another like kings, the great ministers of kings, or noble elders. In what way is this the true Dharma?"

The bhikkhus heard of this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the ascetic practices, were fond of training in the precepts, and knew shame; they reproached the group of six bhikkhus, then went to where the Blessed One was, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported this matter to the Blessed One in full.

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

The precept should be stated as follows:

One should not interlace hands while travelling — this is a śaikṣa-dharma.

If a bhikkhu intentionally does so, he commits a duṣkṛta offense requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If done without intention, he commits a duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

For a bhikkhunī, and down to a śrāmaṇerikā, it is a duṣkṛta.

Non-offense: if one suffers from some illness, or if a bhikkhu's eyesight is impaired and he needs to be led along, then there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who offends for the first time before the rule has been established; one who is deranged, mentally disturbed, or in extreme pain and distress.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA, PART ONE

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002