Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 82Supporting Oneself With Worldly Arts

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– THE PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLANATION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀYATTIKA RULES

82. PRECEPT: PRACTICING MEDICINE AS A LIVELIHOOD.

When the Buddha was dwelling at Kauśāmbī, at that time the bhikkhunī who was the mother of Chanda was very skilled at healing. She would frequently bring medicinal roots, leaves, and fruits into the homes of royalty, ministers, and householders to treat pregnant women. She treated eye diseases, cholera, performed head fumigations, administered nasal drops, used needles to lance sores, and then applied medicines. Because of her healing, she received very generous offerings. The bhikkhunīs then reproved her:

—This is not the proper conduct of one who has gone forth; it is the practice of a physician.

They then reported the matter to Mahāprajāpatī. Mahāprajāpatī in turn brought it before the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately had that bhikkhunī summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this truly happen?

—It is true, Blessed One.

—This is an unseemly thing. From now on I do not permit the practice of medicine as a means of livelihood.

The Buddha then instructed Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī to issue the order that all the bhikkhunīs dwelling at Kauśāmbī must assemble together, and even those who have already heard the rule must hear it again.

—If a bhikkhunī practices medicine as a livelihood, she commits a pāyattika offense.

EXPLANATION:

Bhikkhunī: As explained above.

Physician: One who uses medicinal roots, leaves, and fruits to treat illness. There are also physicians who perform incantations over poisons, over snakes, and likewise incantations over fire, over stars, over the sun, and over the moon. If anyone uses such methods as a means of livelihood, as the mother of Chanda did, she commits a pāyattika offense.

Pāyattika: As explained above. A bhikkhunī is not permitted to practice medicine as a livelihood. If she herself is ill, she may instruct another person to use medicinal means to treat her.

If a bhikkhu practices medicine as a livelihood, he commits a duṣkṛta offense. Therefore, the Blessed One has spoken (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHĀDRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Verification of meaning: Thích Đỗng Minh