Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 19Using Water With Living Creatures

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

– CLEAR EXPLANATION of the fourth section of the NINETY-TWO SINGLE EXPIATION RULES.

19. RULE: USING WATER WITH LIVING CREATURES.

When the Buddha was residing at the Wilderness Monastery, a monk in charge of work used water containing creatures to water the grass and muddy ground, causing people of the world to reproach: "The ascetic Gotama employs countless means to rebuke killing, and praises the abandonment of killing, yet now his ascetic disciples use water containing creatures to water the grass and mud. What kind of degenerate people are these, who have no virtue whatsoever!"

The monks heard this, and brought the matter to report to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered the monk in charge of work to be summoned. When the monk had come, the Buddha questioned him fully regarding the matter described above: "Did you truly do this?"

— It is truly so, Blessed One.

— That is a wrongful act deserving of reproach from the people of the world. It is contrary to the Vinaya, contrary to the Dharma, contrary to my teaching, and cannot be used to foster the growth of wholesome states. From this time forward, I do not permit using water containing creatures to water the grass and ground.

Thereupon the Buddha issued an order for all the monks residing in the Wilderness village to assemble together, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down a rule for the monks, which even those who had already heard it were to hear again:

"If a monk waters the grass or mud with water containing creatures, or instructs another to water it, he commits a Pācittiya offence."

Explanation

Knowing: Either knowing oneself, or knowing through having heard from others.

Creatures: Even the smallest living beings that possess life are called creatures.

Water: Comprising ten types as described above.

Grass: Refers to various types of sharp grass, thorny grass, and so forth.

Mud: The decomposed matter of grass, of refuse, or of elephant dung, horse dung, ox dung, and so forth.

Watering: Whether one waters oneself or instructs another to water, both constitute a Pācittiya offence as described above.

If a monk, knowing that the water contains creatures, waters with it and then stops, he commits one Pācittiya offence; corresponding to however many times he stops, each stopping constitutes one Pācittiya offence. If he instructs another to water, one instruction constitutes one Pācittiya offence. If he further urges, "Water quickly, quickly," each urging constitutes one Pācittiya offence.

If a monk is constructing a dwelling or a warming house and requires water, he may take water from a pond, a river, or a well, filter it and place it in a container, and examine it carefully; only if no creatures are seen may he use it. If creatures are still present, he must filter it again through a filter bag and examine it carefully; but if creatures are still present, he must filter it again, repeating this up to three times.

Nevertheless, if creatures are still not eliminated, he must dig another well, then filter and examine as before in due order; if creatures are still present, he must abandon this place and go elsewhere. The method for filtering water requires planting three firm posts, then using rope tied to the tops of the posts to hang a filter bag, with a container placed below to catch the water. Water that has collected in the filter bag, when poured away, flows back down into the well; creatures arise unpredictably — sometimes they were not there before and now appear, or they are present now but will not be in the future.

Therefore monks must examine the water carefully every day to confirm there are no creatures before using it. If a monk knows the water contains creatures and himself waters the grass or decomposed ground with it, or instructs another to water it, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If he takes water containing creatures to give to an Upādhyāya or Ācārya for bathing, he also commits a Pācittiya offence.

If he uses water for washing bowls, rinsing leftover rice, soup dregs, or various fermented pastes and liquids that contain creatures, and waters the grass or muddy ground with it, he commits a Pācittiya offence. Therefore it is said (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

VERIFICATION OF MEANING: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH