Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 4Lowered Eyes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Okkhittacakkhu
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– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA
– CLARIFYING THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:
4. "One must train thus: to enter a layperson's home looking straight ahead."
Looking straight ahead: When walking, one must not bow the head down and walk like a horse, but must look straight forward to guard against elephants, horses, and fierce cattle. One must walk like a palanquin-bearer and must not look to the east or to the west. When wishing to look in any direction, one must turn the whole body in that direction to look. If one is lax in the sense faculties and does not look straight ahead when entering a donor's home, this constitutes disregarding a rule of training. However, if one is overcome by a disordered or deranged mind, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:
One must train thus: to enter a layperson's home looking straight ahead.
When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī — the full account as above — at that time the group of six bhikkhus called out loudly to one another when entering a layperson's home, and people mocked and criticized them, saying:
—The Venerable Ones are like merchants who have lost their companions, like cowherd boys calling out to one another at the top of their voices. You are persons who have gone forth; when entering someone's home you should speak softly.
Then they added:
—These are corrupt individuals, devoid of any virtue whatsoever!
The bhikkhus then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately ordered the group of six bhikkhus to be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:
—Is this matter true?
—It is true, Blessed One.
—From now on you should speak softly when entering another's home.
Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus then dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down a rule for the bhikkhus — one which all should hear, even those who have already heard it:
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
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