Lzh Mg Bi Vb Np 14Collecting Bowls

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– END OF THE SAṂGHĀVAŚEṢA PRECEPTS.

14. PRECEPT: STORING EXTRA BOWLS.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time a visiting bhikkhunī arrived and received a room in due order. The bhikkhunī who had been there before was a junior in seniority and said: "Venerable, please wait while I move my bowls." The next morning, the visiting bhikkhunī asked again:

—Have you finished moving the bowls?

—I have not yet finished moving them.

—Do you intend to take the bowls and store them at a pottery shop? What use is there in keeping so many bowls?

The bhikkhunīs who heard this then reported the matter to Mahāprajāpatī. Mahāprajāpatī in turn went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this truly happen?

—It is true, Blessed One!

—Why have you been storing extra bowls? From this day forward, I do not permit the storing of extra bowls.

Thereupon the Buddha instructed Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī to convey the order that all the bhikkhunīs living in the city of Śrāvastī must assemble together, and even those who had already heard the rule must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī stores extra bowls, she commits an offense of niḥsargika-pāyattika.

EXPLANATION:

Storing extra bowls: Bowls include various types such as the Tuṃba bowl, the Upātuṃba bowl, the Ukkhali bowl, the Vākiya bowl; in general, iron bowls and earthenware bowls of these kinds are called bowls. There are bowls of superior, medium, and inferior grade, oversized bowls, undersized bowls, and standard bowls; if any of these are stored in excess, one commits an offense of niḥsargika-pāyattika. A bhikkhunī is permitted to keep sixteen bowls (?): one for personal use, three for the purpose of pure-gift transfer, four oversized bowls, four undersized bowls, and four standard bowls. If one keeps more than this number, one commits an offense of niḥsargika-pāyattika.

Niḥsargika-pāyattika: As explained above.

There is a definite limit on the number of bowls a bhikkhunī may keep. If a bhikkhu keeps many bowls and transfers them to her as a pure gift, she may use them without offense. Therefore the Blessed One has spoken thus (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHĀBHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH