Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 76Drinking Alcohol

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA OFFENSES

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

76. RULE: DRINKING VARIOUS KINDS OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

When the Buddha was residing in the land of Kausāmbī, as described in detail above. At that time, in Kausāmbī there was a fierce dragon named Ambara who was able to cause drought so that the rains did not fall, resulting in the failure of crops and the suffering of the people under all manner of calamities. At that time, the Venerable Svāgata went there and subdued the fierce dragon, as is clearly explained in the Sūtra of the Monk Svāgata.

When the fierce dragon had been subdued, the land returned to prosperity, and the people, grateful for the monk's virtue, wished to repay his kindness. At that time, five hundred wealthy households established regular offerings for the monk Svāgata, hung banners and pennants, set out beds and seats, invited the Sangha for offerings, and separately invited the monk Svāgata to their homes to offer him various fine foods.

At that time, one household, after offering food, brought out liquor whose color was like plain water and offered it to Svāgata. Being thirsty, he drank that liquor and then returned to the monastery. At that time, it happened to be a day of great assembly, and the Blessed One was expounding the Dharma, but Svāgata, overcome by the fumes of intoxication, fell into a stupor and lay with his legs sprawled out on the ground before the Blessed One.

The Buddha knew, but still asked the monks:

—Which monk is it who lies with his legs sprawled out before the Tathāgata in such a manner?

—Blessed One, it is the monk Svāgata; because he drank too much liquor, he is lying there in a drunken stupor.

—Has this monk Svāgata ever slept during the daytime before?

—No, Blessed One.

—Before he was drunk, did the monk Svāgata ever lie with his legs sprawled out before the Buddha?

—No, Blessed One.

—If one drinks a great deal of liquor and wishes not to become intoxicated, is that possible?

—No, Blessed One.

—If the monk Svāgata had not drunk liquor, when hearing the wondrous and deathless Dharma being taught, would he have wished to lose that benefit and refuse to listen to the Dharma?

—No, Blessed One.

—This monk Svāgata once subdued a fierce dragon—now, would he be able to subdue even a toad?

—He would not be able to subdue one, Blessed One.

—If the dragon Ambara were to hear of this, it would surely be displeased. From this day forward, I do not permit monks to drink liquor.

Furthermore, when the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, as described in detail above. At that time, the Venerable Nandika drank too much sugarcane liquor and returned to the monastery, whereupon it happened to be a day of great assembly and the Blessed One was expounding the Dharma; but because he was overcome by the fumes of intoxication, Nandika fell into a stupor and lay with his legs sprawled out before the Blessed One. The Buddha knew, but still asked the monks:

—Which monk is it who lies with his legs sprawled out before the Tathāgata in such a manner?

—Blessed One, it is the monk Nandika; because he drank too much sugarcane liquor, he is lying there in a drunken stupor.

—Has the monk Nandika ever lain sleeping during the daytime before?

—No, Blessed One.

—Before he was drunk, did the monk Nandika ever lie with his legs sprawled out before the Buddha?

—No, Blessed One.

—If one drinks a great deal of liquor and wishes not to become intoxicated, is that possible?

—No, Blessed One.

—If the monk Nandika had not drunk liquor, when hearing the wondrous and deathless Dharma being taught, would he have been able to miss that opportunity for benefit and refuse to listen to the Dharma?

—No, Blessed One.

—From this day forward, I do not permit monks to drink sugarcane liquor.

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the monks living in the city of Śrāvastī to assemble together, and for ten benefits he established this rule for the monks; even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

"If a monk drinks sugarcane liquor, he commits a Pācittiya offense."

Explanation

Liquor: There are ten kinds, namely: hòa (blended), điềm (sweet), thành (matured), động (fermented), tạc (soured), tí (absorbed), hoàng (yellow), tiết (lees), điến (sediment), thanh (clear-green).

1. Hòa (Blended): Broken rice and soft vermicelli mixed with water and placed in a vat—even a single drop as small as the tip of a grass stalk or the tip of a hair must not touch one's lips, let alone be drunk by the cupful. If one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called hòa.

2. Điềm (Sweet): If the fermenting liquor has just transformed into a sweet flavor and one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called điềm.

3. Thành (Matured): When the liquor has fully developed its character and flavor and one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called thành.

4. Động (Fermented): When the strong potency of the liquor has transformed and deteriorated and one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called động.

5. Tạc (Soured): When the flavor of the liquor has changed and turned sour and one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called tạc.

6. Tí (Absorbed): Taking white silk cloth, washing it clean, and soaking it in liquor, occasionally removing it to dry in the sun and then re-soaking it, keeping it for use when traveling to remote and wild places, and then wringing out the liquid to drink—this commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called tí.

7. Hoàng (Yellow): Liquor that has turned a clear yellow color but has not yet turned green—if one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called hoàng.

8. Tiết (Lees): The spent residue of liquor. (Not explained in the original text.)

9. Điến (Sediment): The turbid dregs at the bottom of a cask of liquor—if one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called điến.

10. Thanh (Clear-green): Liquor on the surface of the cask that is clear and green like oil—even a single drop as small as the tip of a grass stalk or the tip of a hair must not touch one's lips, let alone be drunk by the cupful. If one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This is called thanh.

Sugarcane liquor: There are also ten kinds, namely: hòa, điềm, thành, động, tạc, tí, hoàng, tiết, điến, thanh.

Hòa: Rock sugar mixed with sprout water and soaked in a vat—even a single drop as small as the tip of a grass stalk or the tip of a hair must not touch one's lips, let alone be drunk by the cupful. If one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense.

The remaining nine kinds are as described above.

Pācittiya: As described above.

In addition, there are also the following kinds: miến mạch nhân sâm, mễ phạn sâm, mạch phạn sâm, mộc mạch sâm, xiểu sâm.

1. Miến mạch nhân sâm: Barley flour mixed with sprout water and soaked in a vat—even a single drop as small as a grass stalk or the tip of a hair must not touch one's lips, let alone be drunk by the cupful. If one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense.

2. Mễ phạn sâm: Rice mixed with sprout water and soaked in a vat—if one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense.

3. Mạch phạn sâm: Barley husks mixed with sprout water and soaked in a jar and drunk—one commits a Pācittiya offense.

4. Mộc mạch sâm: Barley stalks mixed with sprout water and soaked in a jar and then drunk—one commits a Pācittiya offense.

5. Xiểu sâm: Barley rice that has been roasted and then soaked in a jar to ferment—even a single drop as small as the tip of a grass stalk or the tip of a hair must not touch one's lips, let alone be drunk by the cupful. If one drinks it, one commits a Pācittiya offense.

After a meal, drinking xiểu sâm water is not an offense. If one eats yeast, one commits a Duṣkṛta offense. If one mixes yeast with rice and eats it, one commits a Pācittiya offense. If one eats rock sugar and then drinks water, there is no offense. If one eats spent liquor lees, one commits a Duṣkṛta offense. If one combines the three kinds (above) and drinks them, one commits a Pācittiya offense. If one drinks grain liquor or sugarcane liquor, one commits a Pācittiya offense. If one drinks grape wine, one commits a Duṣkṛta offense. If one drinks tulāva or nandī water or eats their residue, one commits a Duṣkṛta offense. If one eats the fruits khara, kapittha, bilva, or kovidāra, one commits a Duṣkṛta offense, because they cause intoxication in those who eat them.

Excepting the fourteen kinds of pressed fruit juices—such as the juice of the āmra fruit through to the juice of the jāmbu fruit—these may be filtered until clear and then drunk. However, if they have taken on the color of liquor, the taste of liquor, or the smell of liquor, then none of them may be drunk. Because drinking fermented fruit juice causes intoxication in the drinker, it is therefore not permitted. Excepting the drinking of bitter sugarcane liquor, bitter grape wine, and pressed fruit juice. Therefore it is said (as above).

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Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHĀBHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH