Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 26Travelling by Arrangement

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

– EXPLANATION of the FOURTH SECTION of the NINETY-TWO SINGLE EXPIATION RULES.

26. RULE: TRAVELLING BY ARRANGEMENT WITH A NUN.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as told in full above; at that time the group of six bhikkhus were travelling together with the group of six bhikkhunīs along the road, and as twilight was falling they sat down beside a lake intending to find temporary lodging. At that point, a bhikkhunī said to the group of six bhikkhus: "Venerable sirs, please remain here while I go into the village to find a place to stay." Having said this, she entered the village to find a place to rest, and a householder agreed to let them lodge there.

Thereupon the bhikkhunī returned and said to the group of six bhikkhus: "Venerable sirs, I have already obtained a lodging place; let us all go in to rest." When the bhikkhus had gone in and settled, she again said to them: "Venerable sirs, I intend to go into the village to arrange for food for tomorrow morning." She then went to a household where there were women and said to them: "Both communities of those leading the holy life—bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs—have arrived here.

Please prepare food for tomorrow morning, as well as non-timely beverages and oil for anointing the feet." Upon hearing this, the women prepared offerings—some preparing a single portion, others preparing two portions—and all made ready various offerings. In the morning the bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs ate and drank their fill, and whatever remained they carried away with them. As they travelled along the road they laughed and joked together, so that people who saw them gossiped, saying: "Look at those disciples of the Sakyan ascetic!

They are all young, yet they shave their heads and laugh and speak together like prostitutes at play. Truly they are degenerate, with no virtue whatsoever!"

The bhikkhus heard this and went to report it to the Blessed One. The Buddha had the group of six bhikkhus summoned. When they arrived, the Buddha asked: "Is it true that you did this?"

— It is true, Blessed One.

— That is a bad thing, unlawful and against the Vinaya, and contrary to my teaching. It cannot be used to nurture wholesome qualities. From now on I do not permit bhikkhus to arrange to travel the road together with bhikkhunīs.

Furthermore, when the Buddha was residing at Vesālī in the city of Sāvatthī, bhikkhus who had completed the rains retreat intended to go to pay respects to the Blessed One. The bhikkhunīs heard this news and asked the bhikkhus: "Venerable sirs, you intend to go to visit the Blessed One—on what day will you set out?" The bhikkhus informed them of the day of departure. Women by nature are very emotional, and so, having calculated the day, they went ahead along the road and stopped to wait for the bhikkhus.

When the bhikkhus saw them they asked: "Where are you going, sisters?" They replied: "We intend to go to Jetavana to pay respects to the Blessed One." Upon hearing this, the bhikkhus, fearing they would commit an offense by travelling together with them, hurriedly left them and went on ahead. The younger bhikkhunīs gathered their robes and ran swiftly after them, while the old and frail bhikkhunīs, unable to keep up with their companions, were robbed by bandits.

The bhikkhunīs then brought this matter to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī went to where the Blessed One was, bowed down and touched her head to the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and reported the full account of the matter to the Blessed One. She then lamented: "If the bhikkhus do not help the bhikkhunīs, who will?" On account of this, the Buddha instructed: "From now on I permit bhikkhus to travel the road together with bhikkhunīs when there is danger." The Buddha then commanded all the bhikkhus dwelling in Sāvatthī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down the following rule for the bhikkhus, which all must hear, even those who have already heard it:

"If a bhikkhu arranges with a bhikkhunī to travel the road together, he commits a Pācittiya offence; except at other times."

Explanation

Arranging with one another: whether today, tomorrow, in half a month, or in one month.

Road: whether three yojanas, two yojanas, one yojana, or one krośa.

Except at other times: that is, when there is danger, the Blessed One permits it.

Danger: the possibility of losing one's life in an instant, or of losing one's possessions, or of having one's holy life ruined. Even if such things have not actually occurred, if there is the suspicion that one's life may be lost in a moment, that one's possessions may be lost, or that one's holy life may be ruined, the Blessed One also grants an exception.

Pācittiya: as stated above.

If a bhikkhu travels together with one bhikkhunī on a road within the range of a single village, he commits one Pācittiya offence. If he travels together in a wilderness without villages, within the range of one krośa, he commits one Pācittiya offence.

If a bhikkhu travels on a shared conveyance together with his mother, elder sister, or younger sister who has gone forth as a bhikkhunī, and when the other travellers have stopped to rest and then set off again, the bhikkhu calls out to the bhikkhunī: "Come quickly, lest you fall behind the other travellers"—he commits a Pācittiya offence.

If he says: "Go ahead, sisters, do not let yourselves be separated from your companions"—there is no offence.

If a bhikkhunī stops along the road to rest, and a bhikkhu calls out: "Come here, sisters"—this is called an arrangement. If she lifts one foot, he commits a Duṭṭhulla offence. If she lifts both feet, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If he says: "Go ahead, lest you fail to keep up with the other travellers"—there is no offence.

If a bhikkhu is travelling together with a group of merchants and the merchants enter a village, the bhikkhu not knowing where they have gone runs to search for them, and suddenly encounters a bhikkhunī and then asks: "Sister, please show me the way"—this is called an arrangement. If the bhikkhunī lifts one foot to step forward, he commits a Duṭṭhulla offence. If she has already lifted both feet, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If instead he says: "Please go and show me the way"—there is no offence.

If a donor from a village has invited a bhikkhu to come for a meal, and the bhikkhu not knowing where the donor's house is goes in search of it, and suddenly encounters a bhikkhunī and asks: "Do you know where the donor's house is? Please show me the way."—this is called an arrangement. If she lifts one foot, he commits a Duṭṭhulla offence. If she has already lifted both feet, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If instead he says: "Please go ahead, sister, and show me the donor's house"—there is no offence.

If a bhikkhunī makes an arrangement with a bhikkhu but does not come, she commits a Duṭṭhulla offence. If she made no arrangement but happens to arrive, there is no offence. If both made an arrangement and both arrived, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If no arrangement was made and neither arrived, there is no offence. If they set out together but arrive at different places, he commits a Duṭṭhulla offence. If they set out from different places but arrive at the same place, he also commits a Duṭṭhulla offence. If they set out together and arrive at the same place, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If they set out from different places and arrive at different places, there is no offence. Therefore it is said thus.

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