Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Nissaggiya Pācittiya 14: The Training Rule on Six Years.
- Translated from the Pali by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Origin story
1 At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time some monks were getting blankets made every year. They kept on begging and asking: “Give wool; we need wool." People grumbled and complained: “How can the Sakyan ascetics get blankets made every year, begging and asking, ‘Give wool; we need wool’? We only make blankets for ourselves every five or six years, even though our children defecate and urinate on them and they are eaten by rats. But these Sakyan ascetics get blankets made every year, begging and asking, ‘Give wool; we need wool’."
2 Monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticised those monks: “How can those monks act in this way?"
3 After criticising those monks in many ways, they informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that some monks get blankets made every year, begging and asking, ‘Give wool; we need wool’?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … How can those foolish men act in this way? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
4 “If a monk gets a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years. Whether that blanket is discarded or not, if he gets another new blanket made in less than six years, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession."
5 In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
6 At that time a certain monk in Kosambī was ill. His relatives sent him a message: “Come, bhante, we will attend on you." Other monks urged him to go, but he said: “The Master has laid down a training rule that a monk who gets a new blanket made must keep it for six years. Because I am sick, I am not able to take my blanket when I travel. And because I am not comfortable without it, I cannot go."
7 They informed the Master. He then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to give a blanket-permission to a sick monk. And it should be given in this way. After approaching the Sangha, the sick monk should put his upper robe over one shoulder and pay homage at the feet of the senior monks. He should then squat on his haunches, put the palms of his hands together, and say: ‘Bhante, I am sick. I am not able to take my blanket when I travel. I ask the Sangha for a blanket-permission.’ And he should ask a second and a third time. An experienced and competent monk should then inform the Sangha:
8 “‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. This monk so-and-so is sick. He is not able to take his blanket when he travels. He is asking the Sangha for a blanket-permission. If it seems appropriate to the Sangha, the Sangha should give a blanket-permission to monk so-and-so. This is the motion.
9 “‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. This monk so-and-so is sick. He is not able to take his blanket when he travels. He is asking the Sangha for a blanket-permission. The Sangha gives a blanket-permission to monk so-and-so. Any monk who agrees to giving a blanket-permission to monk so-and-so should remain silent. Any monk who does not agree should say so.
10“‘The Sangha has given a blanket-permission to monk so-and-so. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’
11“And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
12“If a monk gets a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years. Whether that blanket is discarded or not, if he gets another new blanket made in less than six years, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession."
Definitions
14Blanket: it is made by spreading out, not by weaving.
15Gets made: makes or gets made.
16He should keep it for six years: he should keep it for a minimum of six years.
17In less than six years: fewer than six years.
18That blanket is discarded: it has been given to others.
19Not: it has not been given to anyone.
19Unless he has the permission of the monks: in the act of making another new blanket, or getting one made, except if he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence of bad conduct. When he gets the blanket, it becomes subject to relinquishment.
20The blanket is to be relinquished to a Sangha, a group, or an individual. “And, monks, it is to be relinquished in this way. … To be expanded as in Nissaggiya Pācittiya 1, verses 13 to 17 with appropriate substitutions. … ‘Bhante, this blanket which I got made after less than six years without the permission of the monks is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ … the Sangha should give … the Venerables should give … “I give this blanket back to the Venerable."
Permutations
21If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If others finish what he began himself, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.
Non-offences
22There is no offence: if he makes one after six years; if he makes one after more than six years; if he makes one, or gets one made, for the sake of another; if he obtains what was made by another and then uses it; if he makes a canopy, a carpet, a screen-wall, a mattress, or a pillow; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
23The fourth rule, the training rule on six years, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū anuvassaṃ santhataṃ kārāpenti. te yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti— "eḷakalomāni detha. eḷakalomehi attho"ti. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṃ santhataṃ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti. amhākaṃ pana sakiṃ katāni santhatāni pañcapi chapi vassāni honti, yesaṃ no dārakā uhadantipi ummihantipi undūrehipi khajjanti. ime pana samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṃ santhataṃ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’"ti.
2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma bhikkhū anuvassaṃ santhataṃ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’"ti.
3 atha kho te bhikkhū te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … "saccaṃ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anuvassaṃ santhataṃ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā anuvassaṃ santhataṃ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti. netaṃ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
4 "navaṃ pana bhikkhunā santhataṃ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabbaṃ. orena ce channaṃ vassānaṃ taṃ santhataṃ vissajjetvā vā avissajjetvā vā aññaṃ navaṃ santhataṃ kārāpeyya, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyan"ti.
5 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
6 tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kosambiyaṃ gilāno hoti. ñātakā tassa bhikkhuno santike dūtaṃ pāhesuṃ— "āgacchatu bhadanto mayaṃ upaṭṭhahissāmā"ti. bhikkhūpi evamāhaṃsu— "gacchāvuso, ñātakā taṃ upaṭṭhahissantī"ti. so evamāha— "bhagavatā, āvuso, sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ— ‘navaṃ pana bhikkhunā santhataṃ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabban’ti. ahañcamhi gilāno, na sakkomi santhataṃ ādāya pakkamituṃ. mayhañca vinā santhatā na phāsu hoti. nāhaṃ gamissāmī"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ.
7 atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṃ dātuṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā. tena gilānena bhikkhunā saṇghaṃ upasankamitvā ekaṃsaṃ uttarāsangaṃ karitvā vuḍḍhānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṃ nisīditvā añjaliṃ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo— ‘ahaṃ, bhante, gilāno na sakkomi santhataṃ ādāya pakkamituṃ. sohaṃ, bhante, saṇghaṃ santhatasammutiṃ yācāmī’ti. dutiyampi yācitabbā. tatiyampi yācitabbā. byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena sangho ñāpetabbo—
8 ‘suṇātu me, bhante, sangho. ayaṃ itthannāmo bhikkhu gilāno na sakkoti santhataṃ ādāya pakkamituṃ. so saṇghaṃ santhatasammutiṃ yācati. yadi sanghassa pattakallaṃ, sangho itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṃ dadeyya. esā ñatti.
9 suṇātu me, bhante, sangho. ayaṃ itthannāmo bhikkhu gilāno na sakkoti santhataṃ ādāya pakkamituṃ. so saṇghaṃ santhatasammutiṃ yācati. sangho itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṃ deti. yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiyā dānaṃ, so tuṇhassa; yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.
10 dinnā saṇghena itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammuti. khamati sanghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṃ dhārayāmī’ti.
11 evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
12 "navaṃ pana bhikkhunā santhataṃ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabbaṃ. orena ce channaṃ vassānaṃ taṃ santhataṃ vissajjetvā vā avissajjetvā vā aññaṃ navaṃ santhataṃ kārāpeyya, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyan"ti. (14:33)
13 navaṃ nāma karaṇaṃ upādāya vuccati.
14 santhataṃ nāma santharitvā kataṃ hoti avāyimaṃ.
15 kārāpetvāti karitvā vā kārāpetvā vā.
16 chabbassāni dhāretabbanti chabbassaparamatā dhāretabbaṃ.
17 orena ce channaṃ vassānanti ūnakachabbassāni.
18 taṃ santhataṃ vissajjetvāti aññesaṃ datvā.
19 avissajjetvāti na kassaci datvā.
20 aññatra bhikkhusammutiyāti ṭhapetvā bhikkhusammutiṃ aññaṃ navaṃ santhataṃ karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṃ. paṭilābhena nissaggiyaṃ hoti. nissajjitabbaṃ sanghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṃ … pe … "idaṃ me, bhante, santhataṃ ūnakachabbassāni kārāpitaṃ, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṃ. imāhaṃ sanghassa nissajjāmī"ti … pe … dadeyyāti … pe … dadeyyunti … pe … āyasmato dammīti.
21 attanā vippakataṃ attanā pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. attanā vippakataṃ parehi pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. parehi vippakataṃ attanā pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. parehi vippakataṃ parehi pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ.
22 anāpatti— chabbassāni karoti, atirekachabbassāni karoti, aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, aññena kataṃ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, vitānaṃ vā bhūmattharaṇaṃ vā sāṇipākāraṃ vā bhisiṃ vā bibbohanaṃ vā karoti, bhikkhusammutiyā, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.