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– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– CLEAR EXPLANATION OF THE OPENING SECTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

1. "It should be trained: wear the inner robe neatly."

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described at length above. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus wore the inner robe either too low or too high, unevenly, in multiple folds, like a pomegranate flower, like a ball of pressed rice, like a fish tail, like a palm leaf, like an elephant's trunk, and so forth.

Too low: reaching down to the heels.

Too high: level with the knees.

Unevenly: not neat and orderly.

Multiple folds: folded into many layers.

Like a pomegranate flower: bunched up to one side.

Like a ball of pressed rice: gathered up at the top like a ball of pressed rice.

Like a fish tail: with two corners hanging down like a fish tail.

Like a palm leaf: protruding like a palm leaf.

Like an elephant's trunk: with one corner hanging down.

Because they wore the inner robe in such a slovenly manner, people ridiculed them:

—Look at these Sakyan monastics wearing their robes like princes, ministers, or men of pleasure — some too high, some too low, uneven, all the way to resembling an elephant's trunk. These are degenerate people. What kind of religious life is this?

The bhikkhus heard this and went to report the matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered the group of six bhikkhus to be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this really happen?

—It is true, Blessed One.

—Why do you wear the inner robe too high or too low, even like an elephant's trunk, causing people to criticize you? From now on I do not permit wearing the inner robe in such a manner.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and he put on the inner robe before the Sangha. Having done so, the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

—You should wear the inner robe in this manner, as the Suddhāvāsa devas wear theirs — folding the right side and arranging it toward the left.

Thereupon, for ten benefits, the Buddha laid down this training rule for the bhikkhus, and even those who have heard it before must hear it again:

1. "It should be trained: wear the inner robe neatly."

When putting on the inner robe, one must wear it neatly. One must not roll it up as if winding it around an axle, nor should one behave like a courtesan selling her beauty, glancing left and right to see whether one looks attractive or not. One need only check whether it is worn neatly and in accordance with the Dharma. If one is negligent with the sense faculties and fails to pay attention to wearing it neatly, this is treating the training rule with contempt. If one is afflicted by madness or a disturbed mind, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

"It should be trained: wear the inner robe neatly."

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described at length above. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus draped the outer robe sometimes too low, sometimes too high, or in a manner like that of the Brahmā devas or the Vāsava devas.

Draping the robe too low: reaching down to the heels.

Draping the robe too high: level with the knees.

Draping the robe like the Brahmā devas: the robe protruding above the head and showing beneath both armpits. This is called draping the robe like the Brahmā devas.

Draping the robe like the Vāsava devas: the robe protruding over the back and drawn up from beneath both armpits over the two shoulders. This is called draping the robe like the Vāsava devas.

Because they draped their robes in such a slovenly manner, people ridiculed them:

—Why do these Sakyan monastics drape their robes sometimes high, sometimes low, like kings, ministers, or wealthy men? These are degenerate people. What conduct worthy of the religious life do they have?

The bhikkhus heard this and went to report the matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered the group of six bhikkhus to be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this really happen?

—It is true, Blessed One.

—From now on I do not permit draping the robe too high or too low, nor in the manner of the Vāsava devas. The robe must be draped neatly.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and for ten benefits he laid down this training rule for the bhikkhus, and even those who have heard it before must hear it again:

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH