Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 112Sunshades and Sandals

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀYANTIKA RULES

112. PRECEPT: USING A SUNSHADE WHEN NOT ILL.

When the Buddha was residing at Vesālī, the bhikkhunī Bhadrajyotī went to a relative's house carrying a sunshade and wearing sandals. People of the world criticized her, saying: "Why does a female renunciant behave just like a worldly person, being so full of desire?"

The bhikkhunīs then reported this to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī in turn went and informed the Blessed One. The Buddha had that bhikkhunī summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Is this truly what happened?

—It is indeed so, Blessed One!

—From now on, I do not permit carrying a sunshade or wearing sandals.

Furthermore, when the Buddha was residing at Sāvatthī, there were some girls from the Sakya and Malla clans who had formerly been musicians and had now gone forth into homelessness. When traveling, they suffered greatly from the heat. The bhikkhunīs reported this to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī went and informed the Blessed One. The Buddha declared: "From now on, I permit it when one is ill."

Thereupon the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī to convey the order that all the bhikkhunīs living at Sāvatthī were to assemble, and that even those who had already heard it must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī who is not ill carries a sunshade or wears sandals, she commits a pāyantika offence.

EXPLANATION:

Ill: If one is elderly, infirm, or afflicted with illness, and wears sandals to support one's feet, the Blessed One has said there is no offence.

Sunshade: Such as a sunshade made of bark, of palm leaf, of bamboo, of malau, of leaves, of cloth, and all similar kinds of sunshades.

Sandals: Single-soled sandals or double-soled sandals.

Carries: If one makes use of it, one commits a pāyantika offence.

Pāyantika: As explained above. If one carries a sunshade but does not wear sandals, one commits a vināyātikrama offence. If one wears sandals but does not carry a sunshade, one also commits a vināyātikrama offence. If one uses both, one commits a pāyantika offence. If one uses neither, there is no offence.

If a bhikkhu carries a fine sunshade and wears double-soled sandals, he commits a vināyātikrama offence. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (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

Verification of meaning: Thích Đỗng Minh