Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 137Making Ill at Ease

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– THE PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀYANTIKA RULES

137. PRECEPT: DISTURBING ONE WHO ENTERED THE RAINS-RETREAT BEFORE ONESELF.

When the Buddha was residing at the city of Sāvatthī, at that time, when the day of the Rains-retreat arrived, the bhikkhunī Kālī went elsewhere. When she had completed her Rains-retreat and returned, the rooms had already been fully distributed. She then went to her former room and demanded it of the one who was staying there:

—This is my room; please return it to me.

—I have already received it; you cannot demand it back.

And so the two of them quarreled with each other. At that time a virtuous bhikkhunī called to her, saying: "Venerable one, come and stay in this room." She then piled up cleaning rags, firewood, and grass in the room. The bhikkhunī who had been there first said:

—Venerable one, those are unnecessary things; do not keep them in the room.

—Good sister, did you purchase this room?

—This room belongs to the Sangha; I received it in proper order.

—If this room belongs to the Sangha, then why may I not store things here?

And so she disturbed that person through body and speech.

The bhikkhunīs then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. In the end, when the Buddha questioned her, she replied:

—It is truly so, Blessed One!

—That is a wrongful act. Why, knowing that another had entered the Rains-retreat before you, did you afterward come and disturb her? From now on, I do not permit this.

The Buddha then instructed: Whether one has already heard this or not, one must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī, knowing that another bhikkhunī has entered the Rains-retreat before her, afterward comes and herself disturbs her or orders another to disturb her, she commits a Pāyantika offense.

EXPLANATION:

Knowing that another has entered the Rains-retreat before: This refers to both the Early Rains-retreat and the Late Rains-retreat.

Disturbing: If one personally disturbs through body and speech, or orders another to disturb through body and speech, she commits a Pāyantika offense.

If one disturbs a bhikkhunī, she commits a Pāyantika offense; if one disturbs a Sikkhamānā or a sāmaṇerī, she commits a Vinaya offense. Finally, if one disturbs a lay person, she commits a Vinaya offense requiring mental repentance. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (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

VERIFIED IN MEANING BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH