Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 114Lying on the Same Sheet

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

114. PRECEPT: LYING TOGETHER ON THE SAME BED.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time a group of six bhikkhunīs slept together on the same bed and the same cot, causing the blankets and pillows to become torn and worn out, and the beds and cots to become damaged. The bhikkhunīs then reported this matter to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī informed the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this matter truly occur?

—It truly did, Blessed One!

—That is a wrongful thing.

Thereupon, the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī to issue an order for all the bhikkhunīs living in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble together, and that even those who had already heard it must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī spreads out bedding and lies together with another, she commits a pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Spreads out: Sharing the same cot, the same bed, the same mosquito net.

Bed: There are fourteen types; even if one lies on a Cilāna bed, a pācittiya offense is committed.

Pācittiya: As explained above. One must not lie together on the same bed; rather, each person should lie on a separate bed. If a bed has three sitting places, two people may lie on it, but when stretching out the legs they must not extend beyond the knees of the other.

If the mattress is square, three such mattresses may be used for two people lying down, but when stretching out the legs they must not extend beyond the knees. If bedding is spread on the ground, it must not be used by many people together; rather, they should lie apart from one another at a distance of approximately one outstretched arm's length. If it is a sitting cloth, one should spread it out oneself and sit upon it.

When the weather is cold, above them a single curtain may be shared as a cover, while below, each person wraps herself in her own separate blanket; in such a case there is no offense.

If a bhikkhu lies together on the same bed with another, he commits a dubbhāsita offense. Therefore the Blessed One spoke 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