Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 59Holding a Staff

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– CLARIFICATION OF THE BEGINNING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

– CLARIFICATION OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES.

59. "A rule of training: One must not teach the Dharma to one who holds a staff, unless that person is ill."

Holding a staff: All types of staffs.

Teaching the Dharma: As stated above, one must not teach the Dharma to one who holds a staff and is not ill; if that person is ill, there is no offense.

If a bhikkhu, on account of business concerning a stupa or the Sangha, goes to the residence of a king or a landowner, and that person says: "Bhikkhu, please teach the Dharma to me," one must not tell them to set aside the staff, for fear that they will give rise to doubt. If beside them there is a layperson of pure status, one should think of oneself as teaching the Dharma to that layperson; even if the king hears, there is no offense.

If a bhikkhu is traveling on a dangerous and frightening stretch of road, and a guard says: "Venerable One, please teach the Dharma to me," then even though that person is holding a staff, one may teach the Dharma without offense.

If one indulges the sense faculties and teaches the Dharma to one who is not ill and holds a staff, that is to show disregard for the rule of training. Except in the case of mental derangement, there is no exemption from offense. Therefore it is said:

"A rule of training: One must not teach the Dharma to one who holds a staff, unless that person is ill."

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Vesālī—as explained in full above—at that time Nanda and Upananda taught the Dharma to the Licchavi youths who were holding parasols. The people of the world criticized them, saying:

—Why do the Sakyan monastics behave like performers, teaching the Dharma to people who hold parasols? These are corrupt individuals—what spiritual virtue do they have? Moreover, these youths also have no reverent mind; when hearing the sublime Dharma in this way, they ought to have set aside their parasols—why do they listen to the Dharma while holding parasols?

The bhikkhus then brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately instructed that Nanda and Upananda be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

—Is this matter true?

—It is true, Blessed One.

—Why did you teach the Dharma to those who are not ill and who were holding parasols? From now on, one must not teach the Dharma to one who holds a parasol, unless that person is ill.

The Buddha then issued a command for all the bhikkhus to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits, he laid down this precept for the bhikkhus—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 ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH