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– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– CLARIFYING THE FIRST PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

– CLARIFYING THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES.

52. "One must train thus: One shall not teach the Dharma to one who is wearing wooden clogs, unless they are ill."

Ill: The Blessed One declares there is no offense.

Wooden clogs: There are fourteen kinds: 1. Gold clogs; 2. Silver clogs; 3. Maṇi clogs; 4. Ivory clogs; 5. Wooden clogs; 6. Tāla clogs; 7. Leather clogs; 8. Khubāla clogs; 9. Lead clogs; 10. Thorn-grass clogs; 11. Bark clogs; 12. Vāka clogs; 13. Grass clogs. Comprising all such kinds of clogs — these are called wooden clogs.

Teaching the Dharma: As stated above.

If a bhikkhu, on account of affairs of the Stūpa or the Saṅgha, goes to a king or a landowner, and they say: "Bhikkhu, please teach the Dharma to me," he should not ask them to remove their clogs, for fear of giving rise to doubt in their minds. If beside them there is a lay attendant, one may intend to teach the Dharma to the lay attendant; even if the king hears it, there is no offense. If one is unrestrained in the sense faculties and teaches the Dharma to one who is not ill and is wearing clogs, this is to disregard the training rule. Except in the case where the mind is deranged, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

"One must train thus: One shall not teach the Dharma to one who is wearing wooden clogs, unless they are ill."

When the Buddha was residing at Vesālī — as described in full above — at that time Nanda and Upananda taught the Dharma to the young Licchavī boys who had their heads covered. People of the world ridiculed them, saying:

— Why do the Samaṇas, sons of the Śākyas, behave like performers, teaching the Dharma to those with covered heads? These are degenerate people — what moral conduct do they have! Furthermore, these young boys also show no respectful mind; hearing such a sublime Dharma, they ought to remove the coverings from their heads — why do they listen to the Dharma with their heads covered?

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

— Is it true that you did this?

— It is true, Blessed One.

— Why did you teach the Dharma to those who are not ill and who had their heads covered? From this day forward, one shall not teach the Dharma to one who has their head covered, unless they are ill.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus to assemble together, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down the training rule for the bhikkhus, so that even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

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

REVIEWER: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH