Lzh Mg Bu Vb Np 26Asking for Thread

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– NI-SATTVA (NISSAGGIYA) RULES FOR BHIKKHUS

– EXPLAINING PART THREE (ORIGINALLY CALLED PART FOUR) OF THE THIRTY NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA RULES.

26. RULE: ASKING FOR THREAD FOR WEAVING CLOTH.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described in full above. At that time, the Venerable Nanda and Upananda, carrying skeins of thread, went to the house of a householder and said to the upāsikā: "Give me some thread."

The wives of the householders thought: "This bhikkhu wishes to buy thread," and so each of them brought thread.

When the bhikkhu saw this, he compared the thread with his own skein and said: "This is exactly the kind of thread I have been looking for; comparing them, they are identical." If he saw one that was of finer quality, he would say: "This is what I have been looking for, but comparing them, yours is better." If he saw one that was coarse, he would say: "This thread, though coarse, can be made into something fine." Yet all those who had carried thread to him gained nothing from it.

At that time, not far from the Jetavana monastery, there was a poor village where a weaving workshop had been established. Those Venerables intended to ordain this weaver as a monastic so as to have him weave robes for them. When the Venerable Ānanda's time for almsround came, he put on his robe, took his bowl, and entered the village going from house to house for alms. He came before that house and saw Nanda and Upananda together holding out a skein of thread stretched between them. Seeing this, they greeted one another. Then Ānanda asked the two of them: "What are the elders doing?"

They replied: "We intend to weave cloth."

Then they thought: "Today we have encountered the attendant Ānanda—since Ānanda is the attendant of the Blessed One—surely he will speak to the Blessed One and a skillful means will be devised." Thinking thus, one of them took the skein of thread and offered it to the Venerable Ānanda, saying: "Please take this back to mend your robe." But Ānanda did not accept it.

After returning from the almsround and finishing his meal, Ānanda reported the entire matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered Nanda and Upananda to be summoned. When they arrived, the Buddha questioned Upananda about the matter, up to: "Is it true that Ānanda did not accept your thread?"

He replied: "It is true."

The Buddha rebuked him: "That is a wrongful act. Have you not heard me praise, by means of countless skillful methods, the virtue of few desires, and censure the seeking of many things? This is not in accordance with the Dharma, not in accordance with the Vinaya, it contradicts my teaching, and cannot be used to nurture wholesome qualities."

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing in Sāvatthī to assemble together, and for the sake of ten benefits, he laid down this rule for the bhikkhus—even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

"If a bhikkhu himself goes to ask for thread and then instructs a weaver to weave cloth, he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya offense."

Explanation

—Himself asking: Soliciting, asking, or receiving one skein, two skeins of thread.

—Thread: There are seven kinds of thread.

—Weaver: Such as the weaver Kimbidīthūkulī.

If it is woven into cloth, a Nissaggiya Pācittiya offense is incurred.

If a bhikkhu himself goes to ask for thread, he commits a Dukkaṭa offense to be confessed mentally. If he receives it, he commits a Dukkaṭa offense. When it is woven into cloth, he commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya offense.

According to the customs of the country of Kāsi, after the rains retreat is concluded, donors offer thread and weaving fees to the bhikkhus. A bhikkhu who wishes to have cloth woven should bring the thread to the weaver and say: "I give you this skein; please weave it into cloth for me." If the weaver says: "I do not understand what the Venerable means," one should ask: "What is the trade of your household?" He answers: "Weaving cloth." One then says: "Please weave this into cloth for me." If the weaver still does not understand, one should entrust the skein to a净人 (purified lay helper) and ask them to arrange the weaving; one must under no circumstances use the language of hiring.

If there is a bhikkhu who knows how to weave a belt, and one wishes to ask him to weave one, one should bring the thread, hand it to him, and say: "Elder, please make this into a belt for me." Therefore it is spoken as above.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH