Lzh Mg Bu Vb Np 13Silk Blanket

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA RULES FOR BHIKKHUS

– EXPLAINING THE SECOND SECTION OF THE THIRTY NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA RULES.

13. RULE: MAKING A SITTING MAT MIXED WITH SILK AND WOOL.

When the Buddha was residing at a multi-storied monastery in the forest, at that time a certain bhikkhu intended to make a floor-mat but lacked goat's wool. The other bhikkhus asked him: "Have you finished making the floor-mat?"

He replied: "It is not yet finished."

They asked again: "Why is that?"

He replied: "Because I am short of goat's wool."

The bhikkhus then said: "Would you like some fine silk to use in making it?"

He replied: "Yes, I would."

The bhikkhus then said: "You should go to the village of Khoáng Dã and ask for silk there, then mix it with the goat's wool to make it."

He followed their advice and went to the village of Khoáng Dã, entered a silk-making house, and asked the owner: "Householder, please give me a little silk."

The owner replied: "Please wait a moment, I will go and fetch the silk and bring it out for you."

The bhikkhu stood waiting outside for a while, then went over and asked: "Have you fetched it yet?"

They replied: "I have just taken it out—please wait a moment; once I have finished boiling it I will give it to you."

They then brought out a chair and invited the bhikkhu to sit. He sat and waited for a short time, then went over to see whether the water in the pot had come to a boil. Seeing that it had, he said: "The water is boiling; you can put the cocoons in."

The owner, wishing to taunt the bhikkhu, asked: "Venerable sir, has the water truly come to a boil so that the cocoons can be put in?"

He replied: "It has indeed come to a boil; they can be put in."

The owner then put the cocoons into the boiling water, and they made a bubbling, hissing sound. He then reproached the bhikkhu: "I have heard that the śramaṇa Gautama uses countless skillful means to praise non-killing and to censure killing—so why does this disciple of the Śākyan śramaṇa deliberately kill living beings? This is a complete loss of the śramaṇa's proper conduct. What manner of virtue is left?"

With a displeased mind, the owner gave the bhikkhu a small amount of silk. Having received the silk, the bhikkhu returned and mixed it with the goat's wool to make the floor-mat. The bhikkhus again asked: "Have you finished making the floor-mat?"

He replied: "It is finished, but in the making the benefit was small and the fault was great."

The bhikkhus asked: "What do you mean by 'small benefit and great fault'?"

He then recounted the entire incident described above. When the bhikkhus had heard this, they went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered that bhikkhu to be summoned. When he arrived, the Buddha asked him: "Bhikkhu, did you truly do this?"

He replied: "It is truly so, Blessed One."

The Buddha rebuked him: "That is an evil deed. Have you not heard me use countless skillful means to censure killing and to praise non-killing? Why then did you commit such an evil act? This is contrary to the Dharma, contrary to the Vinaya, contrary to my teaching, and cannot be used to nourish wholesome states."

The Buddha then commanded all the bhikkhus living in Vesālī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits proclaimed this rule for the bhikkhus—even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

"If a bhikkhu makes a new floor-mat by mixing silk with pure black goat's wool, he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya."

Explanation

—Silk: There are two kinds. The first is raw; the second is processed. Raw silk means fine unworked silk thread. Processed silk means silk that has been spun into thread.

(Certain terms have already been explained above.)

If a bhikkhu uses silk to sew the saṃghāṭī robe and goat's wool to sew the uttarāsaṅga robe; or uses goat's wool to sew the saṃghāṭī and silk to sew the uttarāsaṅga—whether he makes it himself or has another make it—upon completion he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya. When he uses it, he commits a Dukkaṭa offense. If a bhikkhu uses silk to sew the saṃghāṭī and goat's wool to sew the antaravāsaka, or uses goat's wool to sew the saṃghāṭī and silk to sew the antaravāsaka—whether he makes it himself or has another make it—upon completion he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya.

When he uses it, he commits a Dukkaṭa offense. If the warp threads are made of silk and the weft threads of goat's wool, or the warp threads are of goat's wool and the weft threads of silk—whether he makes it himself or has another make it—upon completion he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya. When he uses it, he commits a Dukkaṭa offense.

If the border is woven with goat's wool and the middle with silk, or the middle is woven with goat's wool and the border with silk—whether he weaves it himself or has another weave it—upon completion he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya. When he uses it, he commits a Dukkaṭa offense. If one thread is of silk and one thread is of goat's wool, the same as stated above applies.

If a robe is of goat's wool with a silk edging, or a robe is of goat's wool with a silk pleat, or a robe is of goat's wool with a silk patch—whether he makes it himself or has another make it—all are as stated above. Such a woolen robe must be relinquished before the Saṅgha, and the Saṅgha may not use it, nor may it be returned to its original owner; it may only be used as a floor covering or as a curtain or wind-screen.

Therefore it is said:

"If a bhikkhu makes a new floor-mat by mixing silk with pure black goat's wool, he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya."

End of the twelfth Nissaggiya rule.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHĀDRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH