Lzh Mg Bi Pn 4Four

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– ON THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE MISCELLANEOUS RULES

WEARING WOMEN'S ATTIRE IS NOT PERMITTED.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā went with some women to the river Aciravatī. They removed their garments, set them aside in one place, and went down into the water to bathe. Then she came up to the bank first, put on the women's skirt, and asked them:

—Does it suit me, wearing this?

—I am a lay person; I wear this because I want my husband to love me. But what purpose do you have in wearing it?

The bhikkhunīs then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. In the end, when the Buddha questioned her, she replied:

—It is indeed so, Blessed One!

—From this time forward, I do not permit the wearing of skirts. If a skirt is adorned with various kinds of shells, lapis lazuli, cattle hooves, gems, gold, silver, or maṇi jewels, it is not permitted to wear it. At the very least, if a skirt is made from woven cloth, one commits a pācittiya offense. However, if there is a boil on the genital area that must be covered, there is no offense. This is what is meant by a skirt.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, a bhikkhunī (and so forth) went down to bathe, came up to the bank first, and put on women's attire. The bhikkhunīs then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. In the end, when the Buddha questioned her, she replied:

—It is indeed so, Blessed One!

—From this time forward, I do not permit the wearing of women's attire. Women's attire includes such things as: a cloth bound around the head, golden tassels hung at the forehead, earrings set with jade and jeweled necklaces, rings worn on the fingers, bracelets worn on the wrists, anklets worn on the ankles; in general, all such ornaments that women use to adorn themselves are not to be worn. Whoever wears them commits a pācittiya offense. However, if there is a boil on the body that requires a medicinal dressing, and one of the above-mentioned items is used to bind it, there is no offense. This is what is meant by women's ornaments.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

MEANING VERIFIED BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH