Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 6Memorizing the Teaching

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

– EXPLAINING THE SECOND SECTION OF THE NINETY-TWO SINGLE RULES

6. RULE: TEACHING ONE WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED FULL ORDINATION TO RECITE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Khoáng Dã, as described in full above. At that time, a monk who was the supervising teacher was teaching many young boys to recite, line by line, the Pārāyaṇa (?). Upon hearing this, a brahmin thought: "In what place is there such supremely wholesome Dharma!

I should go there and seek to go forth." Having so thought, he went to the monastery at Khoáng Dã intending to request ordination, but seeing the monk teaching the young boys to recite—sounding just like the chanting of students in an ordinary school—he thought: "I wished to seek the supreme Dharma and go forth with them, yet what I hear here is this droning, drawn-out recitation, just like the sound of schoolchildren in a classroom.

Moreover, one cannot even distinguish who is the teacher and who is the student."

Seeing this, he gave rise to a mind lacking in reverence and faith, and thus did not even go to pay his respects to the Buddha, but returned home and did not go forth.

The monks then reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Buddha at once ordered the supervising monk to be summoned. When the monk had arrived, the Buddha asked: "Is it true that you did this?"

The monk replied: "It is true, Blessed One."

The Buddha then reproached him: "That is a wrongful act. Why did you teach one who has not received full ordination to recite the phrases of the Dharma? From now on, I do not permit a monk to teach one who has not received full ordination to recite the phrases of the Dharma." Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the monks dwelling in the city of Khoáng Dã to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits, he established this precept for the sons of Ḍaphumāla—even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

"If a monk teaches one who has not received full ordination to recite the phrases of the Dharma, he commits a pācittiya offence."

Explanation:

—One who has not received full ordination: One who has not yet become a monk or a nun; although a nun has received full ordination, she likewise may not be taught in this way.

—Phrases: Reciting together, word by word, phrase by phrase.

—Dharma: That which was spoken by the Buddha, or that which the Buddha has confirmed. What was spoken by the Buddha means that which the Buddha himself directly uttered. What the Buddha has confirmed means that which was spoken by śrāvaka disciples and others and then approved by the Buddha—for example, wholesome dhammas up to and including nirvāṇa. This is what is called Dharma.

—Teaching: Speaking on their behalf, instructing by word of mouth.

If a monk teaches one who has not received full ordination to recite the phrase "The eye is impermanent," and recites it once, repeats it once, and pauses once, while teacher and student recite together joyfully and fluently, then he commits a pācittiya offence. The same applies to the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind; the eighteen dhātus; the five skandhas; the six dhātus; and all the way to the teachings of suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self.

If a monk is teaching a personal disciple or a disciple dependent upon him, from various scriptures such as the Pārāyaṇa Sutta, the Debate Scripture, the Anotatta Scripture, the Pratyekabuddha Scripture, and so forth, and the disciple recites along with him, repeats after him, or joins in at a pause, the teacher should tell the disciple as follows: "Wait until I have finished reciting the phrase, and then you recite." If he has taught the disciple thus but the disciple does not comply, he should no longer teach.

If the disciple says: "Please, Teacher, teach me a different scripture," then at that time the teacher should say: "If you do not follow along after me, I will continue to teach you." With regard to such disciples, and likewise with lay men (upāsakas) and lay women (upāsikās) in such circumstances, one may also not teach them in this way.

If monks are chanting the scriptures together, the senior monk should chant, and the junior monk should attentively follow in silence. If the senior monk's chanting is not fluent, the junior monk should chant, and the senior monk should attentively follow along in silent recitation. The same applies all the way down to lay women.

When the Sangha is chanting verses together, no one should recite the same verse simultaneously; rather, each person should recite a different verse in turn (?). Therefore it is said as above.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH