Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 84Beds and Benches

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

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

84. RULE: MAKING BED LEGS EXCEEDING THE STANDARD MEASURE.

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Śrāvastī, as described in full above. At that time, on the uposatha days of the month—such as the eighth, fourteenth, and fifteenth—the people of the city would leave the city and come to pay homage to the Blessed One. On one such occasion, the prince of King Prasenajit also came to pay homage.

Afterward, he went to where Nanda and Upananda were staying, bowed his head at their feet, and said: "I wish to look around; please show me the various places." The elders replied, "Very well," and led the prince up to the upper story, saying, "Look at these columns, rafters, ridgepoles, beams, and crossbeams, with their fine carvings and paintings." Proceeding in turn to Nanda's quarters, the prince saw on the blue floor a large and high bed, upon which was spread a thick and soft mattress, with pillows placed at both ends.

Upon seeing this, he asked:

—Venerable sir, to whom does this bed and mattress belong?

—It belongs to me.

—These things are too luxurious; they are not suitable for a bhikkhu.

—If they are not suitable for me, who then should use them?

—It is appropriate for kings or princes to use such things.

—Am I not a prince? If the Blessed One had not gone forth, he would have been worthy of becoming a Wheel-turning Sage King, ruling the four quarters of the world, and all of you would have been our subjects. But the Blessed One did not wish to do so, and instead went forth, attained Buddhahood, and became the Dharma King. I am the son of the Dharma King; even if I were to adorn myself with things more luxurious than these, it would still be appropriate—how much more so with articles as plain as these.

Upon hearing this, the prince fell silent out of shame. The bhikkhus then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately had Nanda and Upananda summoned. When they had arrived, the Buddha questioned them about the matter described above:

—Did these things actually happen?

—They did indeed, Blessed One.

—Why did you furnish yourselves with such lavish beds and mattresses, giving occasion for worldly reproach? From now on, I do not permit the making of beds beyond the standard measure.

Furthermore, when the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Śrāvastī, as described in full above. After the Blessed One had established the rule against making beds higher than the prescribed measure, the bhikkhus, following the regulation, cut down the bed legs but then added supports beneath them. At that time, on the uposatha days of the month—such as the eighth, fourteenth, and fifteenth—the people of the city went outside the city to come and pay homage to the Blessed One. The prince of King Prasenajit also came to pay homage. He then went to where Nanda and Upananda were staying and said, "Please show me around the various places." Eventually he came to Nanda's room, and seeing that the bed legs had been cut, he asked:

—Why have the legs of this bed been cut?

—They were cut to conform to the regulation set by the Blessed One.

—If the Blessed One said to cut from the top and you add supports at the bottom, what difference does it make?

The bhikkhus then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha instructed: "From now on, bed legs must be made in conformity with the standard measure; I do not permit the addition of supports beneath the legs." Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing in the city of Śrāvastī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits, established the following rule for the bhikkhus—which all must hear even if they have heard it before:

"If a bhikkhu makes bed legs, they must be made in conformity with the standard measure—that is, eight finger-breadths in height, not counting the portion inserted into the bed frame. If they exceed the standard measure, they must be cut down, and the offense of pācittiya must be confessed."

Explanation

Bhikkhu: As stated above.

The types of sitting beds and lying beds together number fourteen in all, as stated previously. If they are made exceeding the prescribed measure, an offense is incurred.

Makes: Either making it oneself or instructing another to make it.

Sugata: The Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One.

Eight finger-breadths: Eight finger-breadths of the Buddha.

Exceeding: Exceeding the standard measure.

Except for the portion inserted into the bed frame: From the point of the socket downward—if there is excess, it must be cut down, and the offense of pācittiya must be confessed. If one confesses without cutting it down, one commits an offense of violation of the Vinaya.

Pācittiya: As stated above.

If one makes a bed oneself and sits on it throughout the day, one incurs one pācittiya offense. If one rises and sits again, each time one sits one incurs one pācittiya offense.

If one sits on another's bed, one commits an offense of violation of the Vinaya.

If supports are added beneath the bed legs, they too must conform to the prescribed measure and be firmly set.

If one is a visiting bhikkhu who arrives at a residence and is assigned a bed in turn, but the bed is higher than the prescribed measure, one should ask the attendant monk to lend a saw. If asked why one wishes to borrow it, one should reply: "This bed is higher than the standard measure; I wish to saw down the legs to bring it into conformity with the Dhamma." If the attendant monk says, "Do not saw it down—the donor will be displeased," and one will not be staying there long, then one should dig the ground and sink the bed legs down to bring them to the level of the prescribed measure. If one is to remain there for a long time, one should use a wooden tube to encase the portion of the legs buried in the ground, so that they are not damaged.

If a bhikkhu goes into a village and visits the house of a donor to sit, and the bed he sits on is high, he should not sit with his legs dangling. If it is the household of an old acquaintance, he should ask them to bring a small footstool on which to rest his feet. If it is not the household of an old acquaintance, he should ask them to bring a brick or a block of wood to use as a footrest while seated. However, if one sits on a high bed in a charitable institution, there is no offense. Therefore it is said (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH