Lzh Mg Bu Vb Np 25Rainy-Season Robes

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– NISSAGGIYA RULES FOR BHIKKHUS

– EXPLANATION OF PART THREE (IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT CALLED PART FOUR) OF THE THIRTY NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA RULES.

25. RULE: OBTAINING RAINS-BATHING ROBES BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, people from the four directions, within a distance of twelve yojanas, offered rains-bathing robes to the Saṅgha, as has been explained in detail in the story of Visākhā, the Mother of Migāra.

Furthermore, when the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Kosala, there was a certain senile bhikkhu who, while on a journey, wore his rains-bathing robe on the inside and his antaravāsaka on the outside, and walked along sweeping the ground with a long-handled broom. Seeing this, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

—Do you see that senile bhikkhu over there? Why does he wear his robes in such an inverted manner?

That senile bhikkhu, upon seeing the Buddha, came forward, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and stood to one side. The Buddha, though knowing the answer, asked: "Bhikkhu, what are you wearing on the inside?"

He replied: "A rains-bathing robe."

—And what are you wearing on the outside?

—The antaravāsaka.

—Bhikkhu, why do you wear on the inside what ought to be worn on the outside, and on the outside what ought to be worn on the inside? And why do you wear the rains-bathing robe at all times?

Thereupon the Buddha said to the bhikkhus: "Wait until the Tathāgata has completed the journey through Kosala and returned to Sāvatthī, then remind me, and I will establish a rule regarding the wearing of rains-bathing robes for bhikkhus."

After the Buddha had completed the journey through Kosala and returned, the bhikkhus reported to the Buddha: "Blessed One, when the Blessed One was journeying through Kosala, you said: 'After the Tathāgata has returned from Kosala to Sāvatthī, remind me, and I will establish a rule concerning the wearing of rains-bathing robes for bhikkhus.' Now is truly the right time; may the Blessed One please establish the rule regarding rains-bathing robes."

Thereupon the Buddha ordered all the bhikkhus residing in Sāvatthī to assemble, and for ten reasons established this rule for the bhikkhus, so that even those who have heard it before should hear it again:

"Within the last month of spring, bhikkhus may seek cloth to make a rains-bathing robe, and then have it made within half a month for use. If, before the last month of spring has arrived, a bhikkhu seeks cloth to make a rains-bathing robe and has it made within half a month for use, he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya."

Explanation

—The last month of spring: This refers to the last fifteen days of the third month and the first fifteen days of the fourth month. That is called the last month of spring.

—Rains-bathing robe: As the Blessed One has permitted.

—Robe (y): There are ten kinds, as explained above.

—Seeking: Requesting, or encouraging others to give. When seeking, one should not go to poor households asking for one cubit here and two cubits there, but should go to households of adequate means, where either one person gives or several people give together. That is called seeking.

—The latter half-month: From the sixteenth day of the third month onward, one may wash, dye, and mend robes, up until the first day of the fourth month for use. If a bhikkhu seeks cloth, has it made, and uses it before the sixteenth day of the third month, he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya.

Any bhikkhu who has accomplished five qualities should be appointed by the Saṅgha through a kammavācā to distribute the rains-bathing robes. Those five qualities are:

—Not partial; not angry; not fearful; not confused; and knowing who has already received a share and who has not.

These are called the five qualities. The one performing the kammavācā should speak as follows:

"May the venerable Saṅgha listen! Bhikkhu such-and-such has accomplished five qualities. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha now appoint Bhikkhu such-and-such as the distributor of rains-bathing robes. This is the motion.

May the venerable Saṅgha listen! Bhikkhu such-and-such has accomplished five qualities. The Saṅgha now appoints Bhikkhu such-and-such as the distributor of rains-bathing robes. Any venerable one who agrees to Bhikkhu such-and-such serving as the distributor of rains-bathing robes, let him remain silent; whoever does not agree, let him speak.

The Saṅgha has agreed to appoint Bhikkhu such-and-such as the distributor of rains-bathing robes, since the Saṅgha has remained silent. This matter shall be carried out accordingly."

When the kammavācā is complete, one should announce to the assembly:

—May the venerable Saṅgha listen! There are various pieces of cloth, large and small, measuring four finger-breadths, eight finger-breadths, unequal and impossible to enumerate exactly; I will now distribute them.

If one does not make such an announcement, one commits a Dukkaṭa offence.

After performing the kammavācā, this person must go and seek cloth on behalf of the Saṅgha. When seeking, one should not go to poor families asking for a cubit or two cubits, but should go to households of adequate means, where either one person gives or several people contribute together, obtaining at minimum one rains-bathing robe. That is called seeking.

If from the sixteenth day of the third month onward someone brings cloth as an offering, it should be distributed. When distributing, one should ask the senior elder: "Does the elder wish to receive it today, or wait and receive it later?" — if it is of good quality. If the elder says, "I will receive it today," then give it immediately.

If he says, "I will receive it later," then wait and give it at a later time. If a visiting bhikkhu arrives, one should ask: "Where does the venerable one intend to spend the rains-retreat?" If he says, "I will stay here," then give it to him. If he says, "I intend to stay elsewhere," but wishes to receive the rains-bathing robe here, it may still be given, with the instruction: "You should not accept a rains-bathing robe elsewhere." If he says, "I will not take it here; I will receive it wherever I take up residence for the rains-retreat," then let him do as he wishes.

If many rains-bathing robes are received, each bhikkhu may give one to each of two novices. If there are too few and there is not enough to go around, then at the end of the rains-retreat, when robe-cloth is distributed, the rains-bathing robes should be distributed equally. This robe may not be worn routinely like the three regular robes, nor may it be transferred through the act of determination, nor may it be worn when bathing in rivers or ponds, nor worn during light drizzle.

When bathing, one should not bathe naked but should wear an undergarment. If there is a surplus of old robe-cloth, one should not routinely wear the rains-bathing robe for general tasks, but should wait for heavy rain to wear it for bathing. If while wearing it for bathing the rain suddenly stops and one is still unclean, one may wear it while seeking another body of water in which to bathe; there is no offence.

If a bhikkhu, when eating or when ill, wishes to apply oil to his body and finds himself in a place where many people are passing by, two people may come together face-to-face to shield him while he applies the oil.

This rains-bathing robe may be used for bathing from around the middle of the fourth month; by the fifteenth day of the eighth month it should be relinquished. When performing the act of relinquishment, one bhikkhu announces to the assembly of the Saṅgha as follows:

"May the venerable Saṅgha listen! Today the Saṅgha relinquishes the rains-bathing robes."

This is said three times. If one waits until the sixteenth day to relinquish, one commits a Dukkaṭa offence. Once relinquished, the cloth may be used to make the three robes, it may be transferred through determination with a familiar bhikkhu, and it may also be worn when bathing in other bodies of water; in all such cases there is no offence. Therefore it is said (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

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

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH