Lzh Mg Bi Pn 23Twenty Three

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– ON THE BEGINNING SECTION OF MISCELLANEOUS RULES

ONE MUST NOT WEAR A THIN BREAST-CLOTH.

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā, who had large breasts, was walking in meditation on an upper terrace while wearing only a single-layered saṃghāṭī-cloth (breast-cloth). People in the world, seeing this from afar, said to one another: "Look at that—it is like gourds floating on the surface of water."

The bhikkhunīs then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. In the end, the Buddha instructed: "From now on, a covering-shoulder cloth (phukiena) should be sewn. This shoulder-covering cloth is to be folded into multiple layers and then tied over the shoulders. Whoever does not sew it and does not wear this type of garment commits an offense of violating the Vinaya. I do not permit bhikkhunīs to wear a single-layered saṃghāṭī-cloth while walking in meditation in an elevated place. However, in a secluded place, wearing a single-layered saṃghāṭī-cloth is without offense. This is called the saṃghāṭī-cloth."

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHĀBHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

MEANING VERIFIED BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH