Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 62Intentionally Killing Living Creatures

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA OFFENSES

– CLEARLY EXPLAINING THE EIGHTH SECTION OF THE 92 SINGLE EXPIATION RULES.

62. RULE: CAUSING ANNOYANCE TO ANOTHER BHIKKHU.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, the account is given in full as above. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus, wishing to cause the group of sixteen young bhikkhus to fall into doubt and remorse, spoke as follows: "The Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must have reached the full age of twenty before receiving full ordination; you have not yet reached twenty years of age and yet you have received full ordination — such a reception cannot be called a valid full ordination." Upon hearing this, the young bhikkhus burst into loud weeping. The Buddha heard the sound of weeping, and though he already knew, he nonetheless asked the bhikkhus:

—Whose children are crying like that?

—Blessed One, the group of six bhikkhus, wishing to cause the group of sixteen young bhikkhus to fall into doubt and remorse, said the following: "The Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must have reached the full age of twenty before receiving full ordination; you have not yet reached twenty years of age and yet you have received full ordination — that is not a valid full ordination." It is because they heard this that they are weeping.

—Go and summon the group of six bhikkhus.

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

—Did you do this thing?

—It is true, Blessed One.

—Why did you do so?

—We were merely joking in fun, Lord.

—You foolish men! This is an evil deed — to cause distress to those who live the holy life and then to call it joking in fun. Do not treat them with contempt. If they were to enter meditative absorption, they could, through the power of their supernormal faculties, seize you and hurl you into another world entirely. This is contrary to the Dharma, contrary to the Vinaya, opposed to my teaching, and cannot be used to foster the growth of wholesome qualities. From this day forward, I do not permit causing another bhikkhu to fall into doubt and remorse.

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble together, and for ten reasons he laid down this rule for the bhikkhus — one that, even if already heard, must be heard again:

—If a bhikkhu intentionally causes another bhikkhu to fall into doubt and remorse, making him displeased even for a moment, he commits a Pācittiya offense.

Explanation

Bhikkhu: As explained above.

Intentionally: Creating the means beforehand.

Doubt and remorse: This encompasses seven matters: 1. Birth; 2. Kamma (formal act); 3. Physical appearance; 4. Illness; 5. Offense; 6. Abuse; 7. Fetters.

Pācittiya: As explained above.

1. Birth: Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must have reached the full age of twenty before receiving full ordination; you have not yet reached twenty and yet you received full ordination — such a reception is not a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing the other person to fall into doubt — whether or not that person actually falls into doubt — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Birth.

2. Kamma (formal act): Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that the formal act consists of one recitation and three announcements, with no one obstructing the kamma for it to be accomplished; yet in your case the recitation was not accomplished, the kamma was not accomplished, the Sangha was not accomplished, and everything was without accomplishment — therefore yours was not a full ordination and cannot be called a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing the other person to fall into doubt and remorse — whether or not that person actually falls into doubt and remorse — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Kamma.

3. Physical appearance: Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must have a complete and sound body before receiving full ordination; yet you have a hunched back, an unsteady gait, night-blindness, a crooked foot, a lolling head, protruding teeth — your body is not complete, and yet you received full ordination; thus it cannot be called a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing that person to fall into doubt and remorse — whether or not that person actually falls into doubt and remorse — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Physical appearance.

4. Illness: Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must be free from illness before receiving full ordination; yet you suffer from festering sores, jaundice, cancer, hemorrhoids — having such diseases and yet receiving full ordination cannot be called a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing that person to fall into doubt and remorse — whether or not they actually fall into doubt and remorse — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Illness.

5. Offense: Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must be pure before receiving full ordination; yet you have committed Pārājika, Saṃghādisesa, Pācittiya, Pāṭidesanīya, and Vinaya-transgression offenses, and having done so you received full ordination — that cannot be called a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing that person to fall into doubt and remorse — whether or not they actually fall into doubt and remorse — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Offense.

6. Abuse: Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must be joyful and consenting before receiving full ordination; yet you were not joyful, you were angry and abusive when you received full ordination — that cannot be called a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing that person to fall into doubt and remorse — whether or not they actually fall into doubt and remorse — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Abuse.

7. Fetters: Speaking as follows: "Venerable, the Blessed One has laid down the rule that one must be intelligent and wise before receiving full ordination; yet you are foolish and without wisdom, like a clod of earth, like a goat's horn, like a cuckoo, like a wild goose — and yet you received full ordination; that cannot be called a valid full ordination." Speaking thus with the aim of causing that person to fall into doubt and remorse — whether or not they actually fall into doubt and remorse — constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called Fetters.

If someone comes wishing to receive full ordination and has reached the full age of twenty, one should allow them to receive full ordination. If they have not yet reached that age, one should say: "Wait until you have reached twenty years of age." If that person has already received full ordination elsewhere, one should not speak in a way that causes them to fall into doubt and remorse; if one does speak in such a way, one commits a Vinaya transgression offense.

If a bhikkhu observes that at the time of receiving full ordination the kamma was not properly accomplished, he should raise his hand and say: "Venerable, your kamma was not properly accomplished." If he does not speak at that time, he may not speak afterward in a way that causes the person to fall into doubt and remorse. If he says: "When you received full ordination, the recitation was not accomplished, the kamma was not accomplished, the Sangha was not accomplished," he commits a Vinaya transgression offense.

If a person with night-blindness, a hunched back, a limping gait, or an incomplete body comes to request full ordination, one should say: "Wait." If they have already received full ordination elsewhere and then come, one must not speak in a way that causes them to fall into doubt and remorse. If one does speak in such a way, one commits a Vinaya transgression offense.

If a sick person comes to request full ordination, one should say: "Wait." If they have already received full ordination elsewhere and then come, one must not speak in a way that causes them to fall into doubt and remorse. If one does speak in such a way, one commits a Vinaya transgression offense.

If one causes a bhikkhu to fall into doubt and remorse, one commits a Pācittiya offense.

If one causes a bhikkhunī to fall into doubt and remorse, one commits a Thullaccaya offense.

If one causes a Sikkhāmānā, a Sāmaṇera, or a Sāmaṇerī to fall into doubt and remorse, one commits a Vinaya transgression offense.

If one causes a lay person to fall into doubt and remorse, one commits a Vinaya transgression offense to be confessed by mental acknowledgment.

Therefore it is said thus.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

MEANING VERIFIED BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH