Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 89Complaining About Others

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– RULES OF DISCIPLINE FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

89. RULE: REPROACHING ANOTHER WITHOUT CAUSE.

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time the bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā went to a lay household and praised the bhikkhunī Śodharī as a person of virtue, one who kept the precepts, was diligent, and who, moreover, had composed deportment when looking left and right, when wearing her robe and holding her bowl, who looked about with proper attention, spoke little, and was honored by gods and humans alike; and that when donors saw her, they immediately gave rise to a mind of reverence and provided her with robes, bowl, food, and medicine.

However, Sthūlanandā herself was deficient in deportment — wearing a torn and filthy robe, exposing her large belly, breasts, and hips, her conduct coarse and her speech unrestrained. Because of this, donors gave rise to a mind of disrespect and did not invite her to receive offerings of robes, bowl, food, or medicine. On account of this, Sthūlanandā said: "I went to the donors' household and praised Śodharī, and so she received all these offerings.

Yet Śodharī has been speaking ill of me, which is why I have received no offerings." Śodharī then replied: "Noble one, I have not spoken ill of you — why do you say that I have?"

The bhikkhunīs, upon hearing this, went and told Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī brought the matter before the Blessed One. The Buddha instructed that Sthūlanandā be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

— Is this matter true?

— It is true, Blessed One.

— This is a wrongful act. Why did you not examine the matter carefully before reproaching another? This is not in accordance with the Dharma, not in accordance with the Vinaya, it is contrary to my teaching, and such an act cannot be used to nurture wholesome states. From this day forward, you must not reproach another without careful examination.

Thereupon the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gautamī to issue a directive that all bhikkhunīs living in the city of Sāvatthī were to assemble together, and that even those who had already heard it should hear it again:

— If a bhikkhunī says to another bhikkhunī: "Noble one, come with me to the household of so-and-so," and afterward, being displeased with that bhikkhunī, without examining what she has heard, then reproaches her without cause, she commits a pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Bhikkhunī: As in the case of bhikkhunī Sthūlanandā, spoken of above.

Household: Such as a household of the Kṣatriya, a household of the Brahmin, a household of the Vaiśya, or a household of the Śūdra.

Afterward being displeased: As in the case of bhikkhunī Śodharī.

The matter of being displeased: Nine causes of vexation, and the tenth is anger that arises without proper occasion.

Without cause: To reproach another without carefully examining what one has heard is a pācittiya offense.

Pācittiya: As stated above. If a bhikkhunī reproaches another without carefully examining what she has heard, she commits a pācittiya offense.

If a bhikkhu reproaches another without careful examination, he commits a duṣkṛta offense. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA, A PERSON OF INDIA,

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Verification of meaning: Thích Đỗng Minh