Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 92Deception

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA OFFENSES

– CLEARLY EXPLAINING THE TENTH SECTION OF THE 92 SINGLE RULES.

92. RULE: INTENTIONALLY LYING TO EVADE AN OFFENSE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described in full above. At that time, the Sangha recited the Precepts every fortnight. The group of six bhikkhus, upon hearing the recitation reach the four matters, fell silent; upon hearing it reach the thirteen matters, became angry; upon hearing it reach the thirty matters, began to murmur; and upon hearing it reach the ninety-two matters, they stood up and said: "Elders, were these things spoken by the Blessed One? Where did the Blessed One speak them? If I am to live long in the world, I shall have to hear such things as these many times over. This is the very mother of the Dhamma that has given rise to such precepts as these!"

The bhikkhus who heard those words felt ashamed and reported the matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha then had the group of six bhikkhus summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked them fully concerning the matter described above:

"Did you truly do this?"

"It is true, Blessed One."

"That is a bad thing. The Tathāgata, wishing to benefit his disciples, established the rule that the Precepts be recited once each fortnight. Why do you disparage and obstruct this? That is unlawful, contrary to the Vinaya, contrary to my teaching, and cannot be used to cultivate wholesome qualities."

The Buddha then commanded all the bhikkhus dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he established this rule for the bhikkhus—those who have already heard it must hear it again:

—If, at the time of the fortnightly Precept recitation, a bhikkhu speaks thus: "Only now do I know that these rules have been included in the scripture to be recited at the fortnightly Precept recitation"—yet the other bhikkhus know that this bhikkhu has sat and listened to the Precept recitation two or three times, or even more, he therefore cannot use the excuse of not knowing in order to evade an offense. The Sangha must therefore, on the basis of the offense committed, rebuke him thus: "Elder, you have lost a great benefit. At the fortnightly Precept recitation, you did not show respect, you did not apply your mind with single-pointed attention, you did not lend your ear to listen to the Dhamma of the Precepts." Having rebuked him, he is made to confess the Pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Fortnight: fourteen days or fifteen days.

Precepts: the twelve precept scriptures.

Evading an offense: This means saying, "Only now do I know that this rule has been included in the Prātimokṣa to be recited every fortnight." Yet in truth, the bhikkhu who recites the Precepts knows that this person has sat and listened to the Precept recitation two or three times, or even more. Therefore, that bhikkhu cannot use the excuse of not knowing in hopes of escaping the offense. Thus, according to the offense committed, and on the basis of the Dhamma and Vinaya, one rebukes him as follows: "Elder, you have lost a great benefit.

At the fortnightly Precept recitation, you did not show respect, you did not apply your mind with single-pointed attention, you did not lend your ear to listen to the Dhamma of the Precepts." Having rebuked him in this way, he is made to confess the Pācittiya offense.

Pācittiya: as stated above.

After a bhikkhu has received the Full Ordination, he should recite the two codes of Vinaya (of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs). If he cannot recite both codes, he should recite one. If he cannot recite one code, he should recite the full five sections of precepts. If he cannot recite all five sections, he should recite four sections. If he cannot recite all four sections, he should recite three sections. If he cannot recite all three sections, he should recite two sections. If he cannot recite both sections, he should recite one section and the verses.

At the Uposatha, one should recite the full five sections of precepts. If one cannot recite all five sections, one should recite four sections. If one cannot recite all four sections, one should recite three sections. If one cannot recite all three sections, one should recite two sections. If one cannot recite both sections, one should recite one section and the verses. As for other matters, they are as the Sangha regularly hears. If one does not recite, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense. The Sangha should invite a person who is fluent in recitation to recite, while all others listen with concentrated attention.

The Buddha taught:

"When reciting the Precepts, the bhikkhus must not meditate or engage in other activities; all must listen with attentive minds. If one listens to the four matters (the four Pārājikas) but does not listen to the thirteen matters, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense. If one listens to the thirteen matters but does not listen to the two Indefinite rules, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense.

If one listens to the two Indefinite rules but does not listen to the thirty matters, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense. If one listens to the thirty matters but does not listen to the ninety-two matters, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense. If one listens to the ninety-two matters but does not listen to the four Prātideśanīyas, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense.

If one listens to the four Prātideśanīyas but does not listen to the rules of training for the community, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense. If one listens to the rules of training for the community but does not listen to the seven rules for settling disputes, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense. If in the middle one fails to listen to any one Section, one commits a Dubbhāsita offense.

If one does not listen to any of them at all, one commits a Pācittiya offense. This offense cannot be confessed privately to a single person; it must be confessed in the midst of the Sangha, before a precept-keeper of moral authority whom one respects. That person should then rebuke: 'Elder, you have lost a great benefit.

Because at the fortnightly Precept recitation, you did not show respect, you did not apply your mind with single-pointed attention, you did not lend your ear to listen to the Dhamma of the Precepts.' Having rebuked, one is made to confess the Pācittiya offense. Therefore it is said:"

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Verification of meaning: Thích Đổng Minh