Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 20Applying Materials to a Large Dwelling

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA OFFENSES

– DETAILED EXPOSITION OF THE FOURTH SECTION OF THE NINETY-TWO SINGLE OFFENSES.

20. RULE: THATCHING A DWELLING MORE THAN THREE LAYERS.

When the Buddha was residing at Kauśāmbī — as described in detail above — the Venerable Chanda went on a solicitation tour to gather materials for a dwelling. Chanda collected thatching materials such as grass, bamboo, and the like, and when all was ready, he went to a thatcher and said: "I have already prepared all the thatching materials; please come and thatch the dwelling for me." The thatcher said: "Venerable sir, you must provide me with food and pay me my wages."

At that time, Chanda agreed to pay him according to the agreed price. Then the man went to the site of the dwelling, and Chanda showed him the materials for thatching. The man said: "Thatching has three grades of thickness and thinness that differ from one another. Which way does the Venerable wish it done?"

Chanda said: "Just use up all this grass according to those three grades of thickness."

The thatcher said: "All undertakings in the world have a proper measure; when done within proper measure, people will praise the work." Chanda said: "Just go ahead and use it all up — there is no need for many words."

The thatcher, following his instruction, used up all the grass for the thatching. Because the grass was plentiful and thick, it could not be bound tightly, and so when rain fell it all came loose, like flowers destroyed by a night of continuous rain. As a result, the robes and bowl were completely soaked. For this reason, early the next morning, Chanda went to the thatcher's house and said: "Why did you thatch the dwelling in such a way that this mishap occurred?"

The thatcher asked: "What mishap?"

Chanda said: "Rain fell all night and soaked my robes and bowl."

The thatcher said: "Did I not tell you at the outset that thatching has three grades of thickness and thinness? Yet you told me to use it all up."

Chanda said: "You must re-thatch it for me."

The thatcher said: "You must provide me with food and pay me my wages."

— "You have already received payment in advance."

— "The advance payment was for the work already completed. If you want it done again, you must pay three times the previous amount."

But Chanda, relying on the power and influence of royalty, compelled the thatcher to re-thatch the dwelling without agreeing to pay him. He went around the thatcher's house, reproaching and upbraiding him.

At that time, some passersby were present, and the thatcher appealed to them: "Good people, look at this Śramaṇa of the Śākyan clan — relying on royal power, he compels me to work without paying my wages."

The passersby immediately criticized him: "Why does this one of the Śākyan clan rely on royal power to compel people to work without paying wages? This is truly unacceptable. Moreover, he walks around the man's house like a horse trampling and destroying fresh grass. This is the conduct of one who corrupts the teaching — what manner of virtue is this!"

The bhikkhus then reported the entire matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha had them go and summon Chanda. When he arrived, the Buddha asked: "Is it true that this occurred?"

— "It is true."

— "That was an evil act, contrary to the Dharma, contrary to the Vinaya, and contrary to my teaching; it cannot be used to nurture wholesome qualities."

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing at Kauśāmbī to assemble, and for ten reasons he laid down the rule for the bhikkhus — even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

"If any bhikkhu constructs a large dwelling with a main entrance and windows, he should do so at a place with little grass growing, and should instruct others to thatch only three layers — no more than three; if he thatches more than three layers, he commits a Pācittiya offense."

Explanation

Constructs: Either doing it oneself or directing another to do it.

Large: Exceeding the prescribed size.

Dwelling: That which the Blessed One has permitted.

Main entrance: The place through which people pass in and out freely.

Windows: The place through which light enters.

Instruct: To order, direct, and indicate.

Thatch: There are ten methods: either with grass, or with clay, or with planks, or with cement; or thatched in the manner of the country of Abandu; in the manner of the country of Magadha; in the manner of the country of Kauśāmbī; in the manner of the Mountain Country; in the manner of the country of Kung-ching; in the manner of the country of Tsang-yü. These are the ten methods of thatching.

Three layers: The maximum is three layers, not five or six layers.

Place with little grass: A place where grass grows sparsely.

Pācittiya: As stated above.

When engaging a thatcher and setting the price, one must follow the market rate — neither too high nor too low — and should say to the thatcher: "If you can thatch it in such-and-such a manner, I will pay you such-and-such a price. If you cannot thatch it in that manner, I will not pay you that price." The terms must be made clear in this way.

Once the conditions have been set, should a bhikkhu then think: "Let me use some means to bring grass, bamboo, and so on to the place where he is working, so that he will see them and thatch quickly and beautifully" — then when the thatcher sees them, whether he thatches well or not, the bhikkhu commits a Pācittiya offense. Or if, wishing to be seen by the thatcher through some means, he goes to the preceptor or teacher to pay respects, or to hear the Dharma, or to do walking meditation, or to enter the village, with the thought: "May the thatcher see me so that he will thatch quickly and beautifully" — then when the thatcher sees him, whether he thatches well or not, this bhikkhu commits a Pācittiya offense.

That is to say, the use of any means whatsoever with such an intention constitutes a Pācittiya offense. If there is no intention of using such means and one goes only to observe whether he is thatching quickly and beautifully, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

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