Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 72Giving Robes

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– RULES OF DISCIPLINE FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLANATION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

72. RULE: GIVING ROBES TO ASCETICS OF OUTSIDE PATHS.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, there was at that time a man named Kiệt Trụ who had gone forth among the outsiders, while his parents had gone forth in the Buddha's teaching. During the cold season, Kiệt Trụ had no clothing, and so he went to his mother's place and lived like a beast. His mother, moved by compassion, thought: "There is an uttarāsaṅga that has just been washed and dyed here," and she removed it and gave it to her son. Having received the robe, he immediately put it on and went to sit in a wine shop. Because of this, people of the world mocked him, saying: "This one of wrong views is like a donkey eating wine dregs, yet wearing the symbol of a noble one!"

The bhikkhunīs heard this and told Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this thing truly happen?

—It truly happened thus, Blessed One.

This is a bad thing. Why did you give a robe to one who has gone forth among the outsiders? From now on, I do not permit giving robes with one's own hand to outsiders.

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

—If a bhikkhunī gives a śramaṇa's robe with her own hand to a layperson or an outsider, she commits a pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Layperson: That is, a person dwelling at home.

Outsider: Refers to those who have gone forth among outside paths.

Giving with one's own hand: One's own hand gives, the other person's hand receives.

Śramaṇa's robe: The symbol of the virtuous and noble.

Pācittiya: As explained above. One may not give a śramaṇa's robe with one's own hand to a layperson or an outsider. If a bhikkhunī of virtuous conduct is asked by women or children who wish for a piece of worn-out robe in order to seek merit or dispel calamities, she may not give it with her own hand but should instruct a female净人 (kappiyakārikā) to bring it to them.

If a bhikkhu gives a śramaṇa's robe with his own hand to a layperson or an outsider, he commits a dukkaṭa offense. If a bhikkhu of virtuous conduct is asked by someone for a piece of worn-out kāṣāya in order to dispel calamities, he should instruct a净人 (kappiyakārikā) to bring it, but he should not give a large piece—only a small piece should be given. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Editorial verification: Thích Đỗng Minh