Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 131Instruction

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

131. PRECEPT: NOT HONORING THE UPOSATHA CEREMONY.

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Rājagaha, at that time the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha had assembled intending to perform the Uposatha kamma, but the bhikkhunī Śreṣṭhā did not come. The Saṅgha then sent a messenger to summon her:

—Venerable one, the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha has assembled intending to perform the Uposatha kamma; please come.

—The Blessed One has established a precept saying that in this life, whoever is pure may observe Uposatha. I am pure, so I have no need to go anywhere.

Mahāprajāpatī then brought the matter to report to the Blessed One. In the end, the Buddha questioned her and she replied:

—It is indeed so, Blessed One!

—That is a wrong thing.

Thereupon the Buddha said: "If you do not respect the Uposatha, who will?" And further, the Buddha taught: Even one who has already heard must hear again:

—If a bhikkhunī does not reverently honor the pure Uposatha of each fortnight, she commits a Pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Pure Uposatha: If on the fourteenth or fifteenth day a bhikkhunī is not ill yet does not go to respectfully attend the Uposatha, she commits a Pācittiya offense.

Illness: If, due to old age, illness, or having taken medicine, or having had her head lanced so that blood flows, or having drunk milk, she must send her consent of purity.

If a bhikkhunī is not ill yet does not come to the Uposatha, or is ill yet does not send her consent of purity, she commits a Pācittiya offense.

If a bhikkhunī does not come to the Uposatha, or is ill yet does not send her consent of purity, she commits a Pācittiya offense.

If a bhikkhu does not come to the Uposatha, or is ill yet does not send his consent, he commits a Dubbhāsita offense. Therefore the Blessed One speaks (in a verse of summary):

"Beckoning with the hand, without a lamp,

Music and song, not extinguishing.

Fragrant oil, bhikkhunīs,

Sāmaṇerīs, training rules.

Women, without Uposatha—

This concludes the thirteenth section."

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

MEANING VERIFIED BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH