Lzh Mg Bi Pn 28Twenty Eight

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– ON THE BEGINNING SECTION OF MISCELLANEOUS RULES

SPINNING THREAD TO SELL IS NOT PERMITTED.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time young women of the Śākya clan, the Malla clan, and the Licchavi clan who had gone forth were spinning thread and selling it, and were mocked by people saying: "These are not true renunciants but rather those who sell thread and yarn."

The bhikkhunīs then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. In the end, the Buddha instructed: "From now on, I do not permit spinning thread. Spinning thread includes such kinds as: cotton thread, soma thread, kauśeya thread, and śaṇa-hemp thread. If anyone spins thread and sells it to make a living, they commit an offense of Vīti-vinaya. However, if one wishes to make a water-straining bag or a waist-cord and spins thread for that purpose, there is no offense. This is what is called spinning thread."

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Reviewed for meaning by: Thích Đỗng Minh