Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 13Swinging the Arms

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– SETTING FORTH THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE RULES OF TRAINING FOR THE COMMUNITY:

13. "A rule of training: one must not swing one's arms when entering a layperson's home."

If that person was formerly a prince, a high minister, or an official, and has not yet eliminated old habits, one should instruct him thus:

—Now that you have gone forth, you must abandon your old customs and follow the rules of conduct proper to a bhikkhu. If you wish to summon someone, you must not raise both hands and wave them, but only raise one hand and wave it. If one is lax in controlling the sense faculties and swings one's arms when entering a layperson's home, one disregards this rule of training. Except in cases where the mind is disturbed and deranged, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

"A rule of training: one must not swing one's arms when entering a layperson's home."

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī, the account is given in full as above. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus wore dirty and tattered robes that exposed their elbows, sides, and chests, while Nanda and Upananda in particular wore thin, transparent robes that exposed their entire bodies; and they sat together in laypersons' homes, causing the people of the world to criticize them:

—Why do the Sakyan monastics behave like princes, high ministers, and nobles, wearing thin and transparent robes?

When the monastics wore coarse and unsightly robes, the people also criticized them:

—They are like servants, lowly hired laborers, wearing dirty and tattered robes that expose their elbows, sides, and chests, sitting in laypersons' homes. The Sakyan monastics ought to have their bodies properly covered when sitting in a home. These are degenerate ones — what religious virtue do they have!

The bhikkhus then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha thereupon had the group of six bhikkhus summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this matter truly occur as reported?

—It is truly as reported, Blessed One.

—From this time forward, the body must be properly covered when sitting in a layperson's home.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble together, and for the sake of ten benefits, he established a training rule for the bhikkhus, which all must hear again even if they have already heard it:

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

Reviewed for meaning by: Thích Đổng Minh