Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 29Sewing Robes

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

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

29. RULE: SEWING ROBES FOR AN UNRELATED BHIKKHUNĪ.

When the Buddha was dwelling at Sāvatthī, as described in full above: at that time the bhikkhunī Sujanā, who had formerly been the wife of the Venerable Udāyin, brought him some pre-cut cloth and requested that he sew a robe for her. Udāyin accepted it and proceeded to sew it. When the sewing was finished, he embroidered upon it images of a man and a woman in sexual union, then folded it, placed it in a box, and returned it to the bhikkhunī. She received the robe, brought it back to the monastery, opened it and looked at it, and was greatly delighted. She then showed it off to the other bhikkhunīs, saying: "Sisters, come look—the Venerable Udāyin is truly skilled in embroidery."

The bhikkhunīs who heard this rebuked her, saying: "That is something that should be concealed. Why are you showing it to others?"

The bhikkhunīs who witnessed this then went and reported the matter to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī then went and reported the matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered that Udāyin be summoned. When he had come, the Buddha asked him: "Did you truly do this?"

—"It is true, Blessed One."

—"This is a wrong deed—it is neither in accord with the Dharma nor with the Vinaya; it is contrary to my teaching and cannot serve to cultivate wholesome states."

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing at Sāvatthī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he established this rule for the bhikkhus—one that even those who have already heard it must hear again:

"If a bhikkhu sews a robe for a bhikkhunī who is not a relative, he commits a Pācittiya offense."

Explanation

Bhikkhunī who is not a relative: As explained above.

Sews a robe: Whether he sews it himself or instructs another to sew it, he commits a Pācittiya offense.

Pācittiya: As explained above.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu must not embroider a robe for a bhikkhunī who is not a relative. If he begins by threading the needle, he commits a Dukkhaṭa offense; when the embroidery is finished and he draws out the needle, he commits a Pācittiya offense. If he instructs another to embroider it, the same offenses apply. 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