Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 59Raising a Hand

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA OFFENSES

– DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE SIXTH SECTION OF THE 92 SINGLE EXPIATION RULES.

59. RULE: THREATENING TO STRIKE ANOTHER BHIKKHU.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described in full above. Because the Blessed One had laid down a rule prohibiting bhikkhus from striking one another, at that time the group of six bhikkhus rose from their meditation hall and threatened the group of sixteen young bhikkhus with their fists, saying: "We will use these fists to smash your faces." Being terrified, the young bhikkhus burst into loud weeping. The Buddha heard the sound of weeping and, though he already knew, still asked the bhikkhus:

—Whose weeping is that?

—It is because the group of six bhikkhus rose from the meditation hall and threatened the group of sixteen young bhikkhus with their fists, saying: "We will use our fists to smash your faces." Being terrified, they burst into loud weeping.

—Summon the group of six bhikkhus here.

When they had come, the Buddha questioned them about the matter:

—Did this thing truly happen?

—It did truly happen, Blessed One.

—Why did you do this?

—For amusement.

—You foolish ones, this is an evil thing — to disturb those who practice the holy life and call it amusement. Do not look down upon those persons. If they should enter meditative absorption, they could use their supernormal power to seize you and hurl you into another world. Have you not heard me teach with countless skillful means that one must arouse loving-kindness of body, speech, and mind, and respectfully pay homage to those who practice the holy life? This is contrary to the Dharma, contrary to the Vinaya, contrary to my teaching, and cannot be used to nurture wholesome qualities. From this day forward, I do not permit the use of fists to threaten one another.

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

—If a bhikkhu threatens another bhikkhu with the palm-blade, he commits a Pācittiya offense.

Explanation

Bhikkhu: As described above.

Palm (chưởng): the hand.

Blade (đao): the fingers.

Threaten: to display a sign of wishing to strike.

Pācittiya: As described above.

If one raises a single finger in threat, one commits a Pācittiya offense; and so it is up to five fingers.

If one threatens with all the fingers together, one commits a Pācittiya offense.

If one threatens with a clenched fist, one commits a Thullaccaya offense.

If one threatens a bhikkhu with the hand, one commits a Pācittiya offense; if one threatens a bhikkhunī, one commits a Thullaccaya offense; if one threatens a sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense; and finally, if one threatens a lay person, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense requiring mental acknowledgment as repentance.

If dangerous animals such as elephants, horses, oxen, goats, or dogs come near, one must not threaten them with the fist, but should instead use sticks, clubs, bricks, or stones, striking the ground to frighten them so that they flee.

If such animals enter within the stūpa precincts and damage images, offerings, flowers, fruits, or plants, one should likewise only strike the ground with sticks and clubs to frighten them so that they flee.

Therefore it is said (as above).

MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

End of Volume Eighteen.

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