Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 49Nisinno sayanassa

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– CLARIFYING THE BEGINNING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

– CLARIFYING THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES.

49. "This is to be trained: A bhikkhu must not sit and teach the Dhamma to a person who is lying down, unless that person is ill."

(They are) ill: The Blessed One says there is no offense.

Teaching the Dhamma: As stated above.

If a bhikkhu, on account of affairs pertaining to a stūpa or the Saṅgha, goes to the home of a king or a landowner, and they say: "Bhikkhu, please teach the Dhamma to me," he must not tell them to rise, for fear of arousing doubt in their minds. If there is someone seated nearby, he should mentally regard himself as teaching the Dhamma to that seated person; even if the king (lies down and) listens, he incurs no offense. If, however, with faculties undisciplined, he sits and teaches the Dhamma to a person who is not ill and who is lying down, that is to show disregard for a rule of training. Except in the case of one whose mind is deranged — there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

"This is to be trained: A bhikkhu must not sit and teach the Dhamma to a person who is lying down, unless that person is ill."

When the Buddha was residing at Vesālī, as told in full above. At that time, Nanda and Upananda sat on a low, small bed and taught the Dhamma to General Sīha, who was seated on a high bed. People of the world criticized them, saying:

— Why do these Sakyan monastics behave like performers, sitting on a low, small bed themselves and teaching the Dhamma to someone seated on a high bed? These are corrupt individuals — what virtue do they possess! Furthermore, this General Sīha shows no reverence: upon hearing such a sublime Dhamma, why does he sit on a high bed while the bhikkhus sit below on a low bed to teach?

The bhikkhus then reported this matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha had Nanda and Upananda summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

— Is this matter truly as reported?

— It is truly so, Blessed One.

— Why did you sit on a low, small bed and teach the Dhamma to a person seated on a high bed? From this time forward, one who is in a lower position must not teach the Dhamma to a person seated in a higher position, unless that person is ill.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he promulgated this rule for the bhikkhus, so that even those who have already heard it should 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 ĐỔNG MINH