Bi Pc 164164. Making an upholstered bed or bench
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tūlonaddha
A nun who makes a bed with luxurious upholstery must remove the upholstery and confess the offense.
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SCRIPTURE ON THE UPHOLSTERED BED (BPI PC 164)
Background
The title of this scripture originates from the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha — the Code of Discipline for bhikkhunīs. It is one of the detailed rules regulating the monastic life of female monastics within the Buddha's community of monks and nuns.
The root term "Tūlonaddha" (tū-lo-nat-tha) means "surrounded by soft down" or "luxuriously cushioned." This scripture concerns the making and use of beds, mattresses, and sitting mats adorned with luxurious materials. In the context of early Buddhist monasticism, the possession of articles too refined or beyond what is necessary was considered contrary to the spirit of modest and detached practice.
This scripture was established to maintain the purity of the monastic community — a core element in safeguarding concentration and mindfulness in daily conduct. It reflects a fundamental principle: implements of practice should be minimal, suited to the purpose of spiritual cultivation, and should not arouse the stirring of attachment.
Main Content
According to this rule, if a bhikkhunī herself makes a bed or sitting mat covered with soft and luxurious materials — such as animal down, fine cloth, or rare substances — she has committed a Pāṭidesanīya offense (an offense requiring acknowledgment).
This act encompasses the preparation, arrangement, or completion of the work of producing such an article. The conditions for an offense are fulfilled when three specific factors converge: (1) the material is a kind of luxurious fabric or soft down; (2) the act is deliberate and complete; (3) the bhikkhunī carries it out herself or instructs another to complete it.
When a violation occurs, the bhikkhunī must undertake two remedial steps: first, she must remove or dispose of the luxurious padding; second, she must come before the assembly of bhikkhunīs and acknowledge the offense. The acknowledgment is not merely verbal, but constitutes a deep recognition of having fallen away from the spirit of practice.
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