Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 73Antaravāsa

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– THE PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

73. PRECEPT: SEWING AN ANTARAVĀSA THAT EXCEEDS THE PRESCRIBED SIZE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time there were bhikkhunīs who wore robes in the manner of laywomen, and people of the world criticized them, saying: "Why do bhikkhunīs walk about wearing robes with long trailing hems and fringe just like worldly women? These are corrupt persons — what religious conduct do they have!"

The bhikkhunīs heard this and reported the matter to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī then brought the matter before the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately had that bhikkhunī summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this actually happen?

—It did indeed, Blessed One.

—From this day forward I do not permit robes to be sewn leaving the full fringe intact; they must be measured and sewn to the correct size.

Then the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī to transmit the order for all bhikkhunīs residing in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and even those who had already heard the ruling must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī sews an antaravāsa, she must measure it before sewing: the length shall be four handspans of the Sugata, and the width shall be two handspans. If she sews it beyond those measurements, she must cut it down and then confess the pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Antaravāsa: The robe that the Blessed One has permitted.

Sewing: Either sewing it oneself or having another sew it.

Must measure: The length is four handspans of the Sugata.

Sugata: The Well-Gone One (that is, the Buddha). The width is two handspans; if it exceeds those measurements, she must cut it down and confess the pācittiya offense.

Pācittiya: As explained above. If a bhikkhunī sews a robe with the length within the permitted measure but the width exceeding it, she commits a pācittiya offense; when she wears it, she commits a dukkaṭa offense. Likewise, if the width is within the permitted measure but the length exceeds it; if the outer edge is within the measure but the middle exceeds it; if the middle is within the measure but the outer edge exceeds it; if when folded or creased it is within the measure but when wet it is within the measure, yet when dried out it becomes too long or too wide — she commits a pācittiya offense, and when she uses it she commits a dukkaṭa offense. Therefore the Blessed One spoke as above.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

VERIFICATION OF MEANING: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH