Lzh Mg Bi Pn 25Twenty Five

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– ON THE OPENING SECTION OF THE MISCELLANEOUS RULES

ONE MUST NOT GROW FLOWERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELLING THEM.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time daughters of the Śākya clan, the Malla clan, and noble families had gone forth into the homeless life; they grew utpala flowers, then picked and sold them. Because of this, people reproached them, saying: "These are not true renunciants—they are women who sell flowers."

The bhikkhunīs then brought the matter before the Blessed One. When the Buddha questioned them about it, they replied:

—It is indeed so, Blessed One!

—From this day forward, I do not permit growing flowers and selling them as a means of livelihood. If a bhikkhunī grows utpala flowers and sells them for her own livelihood, she commits an offense of violation of the Vinaya. However, if she grows them for a stūpa or for making offerings to the Buddha, there is no offense. This refers to the utpala flower.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time a bhikkhunī grew sumanā flowers; and proceeding up to where the Buddha instructed: "If it is for a stūpa or for making offerings to the Buddha, there is no offense."

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH