Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 94Climbing Tree Higher Than a Person

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-DHARMA

RULE 94

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a certain bhikkhu was spending the rains retreat upon a great tree. From atop the great tree he discharged excrement and urine downward, causing the tree spirit to grow angry and wish to take the life of that bhikkhu.

The bhikkhus heard of this, expressed disapproval, and then went to report the matter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this circumstance, assembled the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked that bhikkhu:

"What you have done is wrong, contrary to proper conduct, contrary to the Dharma of a samaṇa, contrary to pure conduct, contrary to harmonious behavior—you have done what ought not to be done. Why did you discharge excrement and urine downward from atop a tree?"

Having rebuked him, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"From this day forward, one shall not spend the rains retreat in a tree. One shall not discharge excrement and urine in the area around a tree. If a place is already prepared there, then to discharge excrement and urine there is no offense."

Having rebuked him with countless skillful means, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

"This foolish person is a source of planting many seeds of defilement, and is the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten clauses of meaning, up to the clause that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be spoken thus:

One shall not climb a tree taller than a person's height. Śaikṣa-dharma.

The Blessed One laid down this rule for the bhikkhus in this manner. At that time, certain bhikkhus were traveling through the country of Kośala, and on the road they encountered a fierce beast that threatened them. Wishing to climb high up into a tree, they thought: "The Blessed One has laid down the rule that one shall not climb a tree taller than a person's height." Therefore they dared not climb up, and as a result they were harmed by the fierce beast. The bhikkhus reported this circumstance to the Buddha, and the Buddha instructed:

"From this day forward, bhikkhus are permitted, in cases of danger to life or danger to the holy life, to climb a tree taller than a person's height."

From this day forward, the rule shall be spoken thus:

One shall not climb a tree taller than a person's height, except when there is a special circumstance. Śaikṣa-dharma.

A bhikkhu who intentionally climbs a tree taller than a person's height commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done with deliberate intent, it constitutes an offense of improper conduct, duṣkṛta. If it is done unintentionally, it is a duṣkṛta.

For bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, and also śrāmaṇeras and śrāmaṇerīs: duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one has some kind of illness, or in cases of danger to life or danger to the holy life, to climb a tree taller than a person's height—there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: the first offender when the rule had not yet been laid down; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is tormented by pain and distress.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. FOUR-PART 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, fascicles 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Publication Committee, 2002