Lzh Mg Bu Vb Np 15A Sitting-Blanket

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– NIḤSARGIKA RULES

– EXPLICATING The second section of THE THIRTY NIḤSARGIKA PĀYATTIKA RULES.

15. RULE: NOT SEWING AN OLD PATCH ONTO A NEW SITTING-BLANKET.

When the Buddha was residing at the Gabled Hall in the forest at Vesālī, as described in detail above. For five reasons of benefit, the Blessed One would go every five days to inspect the monks' quarters, and saw old woolen sitting-blankets scattered everywhere as if on rubbish heaps — in corners of rooms, under the eaves — or carried off by crows to line their nests, or dragged by rats into their burrows. The Buddha knew, yet still asked the monks: "These old woolen sitting-blankets — whose are they, scattered about everywhere like this?"

The monks said to the Buddha: "Blessed One! Some monks have either disrobed, or passed away, or are still living, and they themselves have discarded these old woolen sitting-blankets, leaving them scattered about in this way."

The Buddha then said to the monks: "If the donor does not exercise discernment, then the recipient must exercise discernment — that is, a monk who receives a gift must make use of it and must not discard it. From now on, if a monk makes a new woolen Nisīdana sitting-blanket, he must take a piece of old woolen sitting-blanket, one Sugata-handspan square, and sew it on top of the new one, so as to spoil its color."

Thereupon, the Buddha commanded all the monks residing at Vesālī to assemble together, and for ten reasons of benefit, he established a rule for the monks — which even those who have already heard it must hear again:

"If a monk makes a new woolen Nisīdana sitting-blanket, he must take a piece of old woolen sitting-blanket, one Sugata-handspan square, and sew it on top of the new one, so as to spoil its color. If a monk makes a new woolen Nisīdana sitting-blanket and does not take a piece of old woolen sitting-blanket, one Sugata-handspan square, and sew it on top of the new one, he incurs a Niḥsargika Pāyattika offense."

Explanation

(Some terms have already been explained above.)

—Old sitting-blanket: A sitting-blanket that has been in use for six years.

—Sugata: This refers to the Perfectly Enlightened One.

—One handspan: Two feet, four inches in length (?). When using an old sitting-blanket, one must not use a sitting-blanket belonging to a person of little understanding, one who has transgressed the precepts, one who does not listen to the Dharma, one who lives in a room that is damaged and does not have it repaired, one who has an ill reputation, one who holds views of annihilation, one who has distanced himself from his preceptor and teacher, who is not fond of asking questions, who cannot overcome evil māras, and who cannot distinguish the affairs of māras. On the contrary, one should use the old sitting-blanket of one who is learned... and who can distinguish the affairs of māras.

When using a piece of old sitting-blanket that is one Sugata-handspan square, one must not use a piece that is missing corners, shaped like a grain of rice, shaped like a pestle, shaped like a cart, hanging down in shape, misshapen, convex in shape, or concave in shape.

—Missing corners: Having no corners.

—Shaped like a grain of rice: Wide in the middle, narrow at both ends.

—Shaped like a pestle: Wide at both ends, narrow in the middle.

—Shaped like a cart: Wide at one end, narrow at the other.

—Hanging down in shape: Oblique and uneven.

—Misshapen: Lacking symmetry.

—Convex: Bulging and raised up.

—Concave: The four corners protruding, with the areas in between sunken down.

When sewing on the patch, one must not use pieces of the shapes described above, but must sew on pieces that are perfectly square and complete. When it becomes torn it must be mended, or when it becomes soiled it must be washed, and then other kinds of woolen material may be used to patch it. Any monk who makes a new Nisīdana and does not sew an old piece on top of it — that Nisīdana must be forfeited before the Sangha, and the Sangha must not return it to its original owner but shall keep it for the Sangha's use, though it may not be worn over the body. Therefore it is said (as above).

End of the fourteenth Niḥsargika 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