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– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– EXPLAINING THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

– EXPLAINING THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES.

54. "A rule of training: One must not teach the Dharma to a person who has their head wrapped in a cloth, unless they are ill."

Illness: The Blessed One declares there is no offense.

Wrapping (cloth) on the head: Whether one wraps with cotton cloth or with silk.

Teaching the Dharma: as stated above; but one may teach the Dharma to a person who is ill and has their head wrapped in a cloth — there is no offense.

If a bhikkhu goes to the house of a king or a landowner on behalf of the Stūpa or the Saṅgha, and they say: "Bhikkhu, please teach the Dharma to me," one must not ask them to unwrap the cloth from their head, for fear of arousing doubt in their minds. If a layperson is nearby, one should think of oneself as teaching the Dharma to that person; even if the king hears, there is no offense.

When a bhikkhu is traveling on a dangerous and frightening road, and the escort says: "Venerable, please teach the Dharma to me," then even if that person has their head wrapped in cloth, one may teach the Dharma to them — there is no offense.

If, with the sense faculties undisciplined, one teaches the Dharma to a person who is not ill and who has their head wrapped in cloth, this amounts to disregarding the rule of training. Except in the case of mental derangement, there is an offense. Therefore it is said:

"A rule of training: One must not teach the Dharma to a person who has their head wrapped in a cloth, unless they are ill."

When the Buddha was residing at the city of Vesālī — the full account is as above. At that time, Nanda and Upananda taught the Dharma to the Licchavi youths who were sitting huddled with their knees drawn up to their chests, and people of the world mocked them, saying:

— Why do the Śākya-sons who are Samaṇas behave like performers, teaching the Dharma to people sitting huddled with their knees drawn up? These are degenerate people — what discipline do they have! But these youths also have no reverence; when hearing such a sublime teaching they ought to sit upright — why do they sit huddled with their knees drawn up to listen to the Dharma?

The bhikkhus then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha thereupon instructed that Nanda and Upananda 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 people who were not ill, sitting huddled with their knees drawn up? From this day forward, one must not teach the Dharma to people sitting huddled with their knees drawn up, unless they are ill.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits, he laid down this rule for the bhikkhus — 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 SAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

MEANING VERIFIED BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH