Lzh Mg Bi Pn 31Thirty One

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– THE PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– CONCERNING THE OPENING SECTION OF MISCELLANEOUS RULES

THE MANNER OF RECEIVING DONATED GOODS FROM ONE WHO HAS COMMITTED AN OFFENSE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, there was at that time a high official who had violated the laws of the king, and all his property had been confiscated by the state. The king then sent soldiers to guard it. At that time, the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā was going on alms-round and came in sequence to that house. The official's wife said to her:

—Holy one, my husband has violated the royal law and may be sentenced to death; all his property has been confiscated. I have a few precious ornaments that I wish to entrust to you. If I escape death, I ask that you return them; but if I die, then consider them as my offering.

Thereupon the bhikkhunī extended her bowl, and the woman placed the precious objects inside and covered it with the lid, and the bhikkhunī carried it away. At that moment, the soldiers guarding the gate saw this and asked her: "What is inside the bowl that you do not show us?" They shouted at her, causing her to become frightened, and she then showed them.

The bhikkhunī, upon hearing of this matter, reported it to the Buddha. In the end, when the Buddha questioned her, she replied:

—It is indeed so, Blessed One!

—From this day forward, I do not permit precious objects to be placed inside the bowl with the lid covered. If someone has violated the laws of the state but has not yet been arrested, and whose property has not yet been seized, and they wish to entrust their belongings, it is permitted to receive them. However, if that person has already been arrested by the king and their property has already been confiscated, and they wish to entrust something, one should say: "The Blessed One has established a rule that does not permit me to receive these things." If they say: "I am entrusting this to you to offer to the stūpa or to the Saṃgha," then it may be received.

But after receiving it, one must not cover the bowl with its lid; one must carry it openly. If the soldiers ask, one should answer: "These are the property of the stūpa, of the Saṃgha, of myself." If they allow one to pass, that is well. If they do not allow one to pass, one must return it to them.

This is called the case of covering the bowl with its lid.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

EDITORIAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH