Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 113Atirekaprāmāṇikamañca

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– CLARIFYING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀYANTIKA RULES

113. PRECEPT: LYING ON A BED EXCEEDING THE PRESCRIBED MEASURE.

When the Buddha was dwelling at Vesālī, the bhikkhunī Bhadragāvilerī went to the house of her relatives, spread two or three layers of mattresses upon an exceedingly tall khukhulā bed, and sat there. Laypeople and those of other sects criticized her, saying: "Why does a renunciant nun who has gone forth still behave like a worldly person, being so given to sensual indulgence?"

The bhikkhunīs then reported the matter to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī in turn went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha directed that the bhikkhunī be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha questioned her:

—Did this actually happen?

—It is true, Blessed One!

—Why did you sit upon such an excessively tall khukhulā bed, exceeding the prescribed measure? From this time forward, I do not permit this.

The Buddha then instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī to convey the order that all bhikkhunīs residing at Vesālī were to assemble together, and that even those who had already heard this rule must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī sits or lies upon a khukhulā bed or mattress that exceeds the prescribed measure, she commits a pāyantika offense.

EXPLANATION:

Exceeding the prescribed measure: Higher than eight finger-breadths.

Khukhulā bed or mattress: Khukhulā comprises fourteen types, including the bhaṅkula bed, the khukhulā-bhaṅkula bed, and so forth. If one sits or lies upon any of these, one commits a pāyantika offense.

Pāyantika: As explained above. If one sits for the entire day, one commits one pāyantika offense. If one has already risen and then sits down again, each time one sits down one commits one pāyantika offense. If a bed exceeds the prescribed measure, one may bury the legs of the bed into the ground to bring it to the proper level before sitting on it.

If a bhikkhu sits on a khukhulā bed that exceeds the prescribed measure, he commits a dukkhaṭa offense. Therefore the Blessed One spoke as above.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn — MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Doctrinal verification: Thích Đỗng Minh