Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pj 6Eight Factors

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– THE PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪ

– EXPLAINING THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE EIGHT PĀRĀJIKAS.

6. PRECEPT: APPROACHING MEN WITH A DEFILED MIND.

When the Buddha was dwelling at Vesālī, venerated and honored by gods and humans, as described in full above. At that time, the bhikkhunī Rāṣṭrapāla was teaching the scriptures to the Licchavi youth, until the youth said:

—Even toward other renunciants who wear the robes, I would not dare to give rise to such a thought—how much less toward you, Venerable Sister, whom I deeply respect.

—If you will not do that, then come and stand near me, speak with me, hold my hand, hold my robe, come close with joy, be invited to sit, bow down toward me, and make an appointment to travel together.

—If it is only that much, then it may be done.

Thereupon he pleased her, and continued to do so without ceasing, exactly as the Blessed One has said: "If one thinks of beauty without forgetting it, a defiled mind arises—as in the case of a woman thinking of a man, or a man thinking of a woman."

At that time, the bhikkhunīs reported the matter to Mahāpajāpatī, and Mahāpajāpatī in turn reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered that the bhikkhunī Rāṣṭrapāla be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha questioned her fully about what had occurred:

—Did you truly do this?

—It is truly so, Blessed One!

—This is a wrongful act. Why did you, with a defiled mind, extend your hand to draw a man of defiled mind close to you and make an appointment to travel together? From this time forward, I do not permit one to use a defiled mind to extend one's hand to draw a man of defiled mind close to oneself, up to and including making an appointment to travel together.

Then the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī to command all the bhikkhunīs dwelling at Vesālī to assemble together, and for the sake of ten benefits he established this precept for the bhikkhunīs—which all must hear, even those who have already heard it:

—If a bhikkhunī, with a defiled mind, extends her hand to touch a man who also has a defiled mind, speaks with him, allows him to hold her hand or her robe, welcomes him with delight when he approaches, invites him to sit, bows her body toward him, or makes an appointment to travel together with him—that bhikkhunī commits a pārājika offense and may not live in community.

EXPLANATION:

Bhikkhunī: As stated above.

A bhikkhunī with a defiled mind, a man with a defiled mind: Both have a mind of sensual desire.

Extends her hand to touch the man: Reaches out her arm to where he is.

Speaks: Engages in intimate conversation together.

Allows him to hold her hand: Either grasping the palm of the hand, or the wrist, or the thumb, or the little finger.

Or allows him to hold her robe: Such as the saṃghāṭī, the uttarāsaṅga, the antaravāsaka, the undergarment, or the rain-covering.

He approaches showing delight: He comes to her showing joy, and comes repeatedly.

Invites him to sit: Such as saying, "I have spread out the bed and cushion; please be seated."

Bows her body down: Bending her body close toward him.

Makes an appointment to travel together: If a bhikkhunī makes an appointment with a man at a roadside inn, a garden or pool, or a place they frequent, she commits a pārājika offense and may not live in community.

Pārājika: As stated above. If a bhikkhunī, with a defiled mind, together with a man of defiled mind, extends her hand toward him, speaks with him, allows him to hold her hand or her robe, welcomes him with delight when he approaches, invites him to sit, bows her body toward him, and makes an appointment to travel together with him—that bhikkhunī commits a pārājika offense and may not live in community.

If a bhikkhunī behaves in the above manner toward a paṇḍaka or toward a woman, she commits a thullaccaya offense.

If a bhikkhunī with a defiled mind engages in the above actions with a man who does not have a defiled mind, she likewise commits a pārājika offense. But if she behaves in such a manner toward a paṇḍaka or a woman, she commits a thullaccaya offense.

If a bhikkhunī without a defiled mind engages in the above actions with a man who has a defiled mind, she commits a thullaccaya offense. If she does so with a paṇḍaka or with a woman, she commits a Vinaya transgression.

If neither party has a defiled mind, she commits a Vinaya transgression. In the case of a paṇḍaka or a woman, she commits a Vinaya transgression of remorseful mind.

If a bhikkhunī with a defiled mind, together with a man of defiled mind, extends her hand for him to hold up to making an appointment to travel together, she commits a pārājika offense.

If she commits each of these acts in succession, completing all eight acts, she incurs a pārājika offense. If she commits them intermittently and the eight acts are completed, she likewise incurs a pārājika offense. If she commits one act and then confesses the thullaccaya offense, then commits it again after confession—up to seven times it remains a thullaccaya offense—but when the eighth act is completed, it becomes a pārājika offense. Therefore it is said (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA FROM INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

VERIFICATION OF MEANING: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH