Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Np 14Bribing Weavers

Mahāpesakāra Sutra (The Weavers Who Were Bribed)

Background

The Mahāpesakāra Sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Discipline Basket of the Pāli Canon, in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga section (the explanation of the rules for nuns). This is one of the rules regulating the conduct of nuns in the Buddhist Sangha, reflecting specific situations that arose in the early monastic community.

This sutra is named Mahāpesakāra, "the weavers who were bribed," because of the particular situation about which the Buddha gave instruction. In the historical context, nuns were often supported by faithful householders who sent cloth, clothing, and necessary requisites. However, some nuns tried to exploit this relationship to obtain excessive benefits, even using improper means to get the finest goods.

Main Content

This sutra records a specific case in which nuns instructed weavers (ordinary people) on how to process cloth or how to dye and wash it so that their own cloth would become better, an action regarded as "bribery" or "enticement" of others to serve personal benefit.

Within the framework of the Vinaya, this conduct violates a basic principle of Buddhism: not harming and not exploiting others. This conduct is classified as one of the Pāyattika offenses or offenses requiring public confession before the Sangha, depending on its seriousness.

The Buddha established this rule to protect the pure spirit of the Sangha, to prevent commerce, manipulation, and abuse within the monastic community. The rule also teaches nuns that, even when supported, they must maintain spiritual independence and not exploit others.

Practical Meaning

The Mahāpesakāra Sutra teaches us a profound lesson about the purity of intention (cetanā).