Lzh Mg Bi Vb Np 12Exchanging Personal Property

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– RULES OF DISCIPLINE FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– END OF THE SAṂGHĀVAŚEṢA RULES.

12. RULE: USING OFFERINGS DESIGNATED FOR ONE PURPOSE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā was wearing dirty, tattered robes while going on alms round. A woman noticed this and said, "Venerable one, I wish to offer money for robes so that you may obtain robes." Another person said, "I wish to offer money for a bowl so that you may purchase a bowl." Having received the money, she used it only to purchase food and drink, and did not obtain robes or a bowl. Later, when another bhikkhunī came on alms round, the woman asked, "Previously I offered money for robes and a bowl—I wonder whether Sthūlanandā has made those purchases yet?" The bhikkhunī replied, "I only saw her buy food; there was no sign of her purchasing robes or a bowl at all."

A bhikkhunī who heard this account told Mahāprajāpatī. Mahāprajāpatī then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she had arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this thing truly happen?

—It is exactly as reported, Blessed One.

—That is a wrongful act. Have you not heard me, on countless occasions and by many skillful means, praise few desires and censure excessive desire? How is it that, having received money for robes and a bowl, you used it for another purpose? From this time forward, I do not permit such conduct.

The Buddha then instructed Mahāprajāpatī to command all the bhikkhunīs dwelling in the city of Śrāvastī to assemble, and that even those who had already heard this rule must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī receives an offering designated for the purchase of one thing and uses it to purchase another, she commits an offense of niḥsargika-pāyattika.

EXPLANATION:

An offering designated for the purchase of one thing: An offering of money for robes or a bowl.

Using it to purchase another: Purchasing food, drink, or medicine. If she does so, she commits an offense of niḥsargika-pāyattika. The item in question must be forfeited before the Saṃgha, and then the pāyattika offense is confessed.

If a bhikkhunī receives offerings of money for robes, money for a bowl, money for oil, or money for milk, then the money for robes must be used to purchase robes, the money for a bowl must be used to purchase a bowl, the money for milk must be used to purchase milk, and the money for oil must be used to purchase oil. If it is used to purchase something else, she commits an offense of niḥsargika-pāyattika. If the donor says, "Use it as you wish," then she may use it as she wishes without offense. If there was no prior specification of purpose, she may purchase freely without offense.

If a bhikkhunī receives offerings of money for robes, money for a bowl, money for milk, or money for oil, then the money for robes must be used to purchase robes, and so on down to the money for milk which must be used to purchase milk. If it is used to purchase something else, she commits a vinaya offense. If the donor offers it with the words "use it as you wish," then she may purchase freely without offense. Or if there was no prior specification of purpose, she may purchase freely without offense. Therefore the Blessed One has spoken as above.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHĀDRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH