Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Nissaggiya Pācittiya 15: The Training Rule on Sitting Cloths.
- 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. There the Master addressed the monks: “Monks, I wish to go into solitary retreat for three months. No one is to approach me except the one who brings me almsfood."
“Yes, Master," they replied, and no one approached him except the one who brought him almsfood.
At that time the Sangha of Sāvatthī made the following agreement: “The Master wishes to be on solitary retreat for three months. No one is to approach the Master except the one who brings him almsfood. Anyone who approaches the Master should be made to confess a pācittiya offence."
2
Just then Venerable Upasena Vaṅgantaputta and his followers approached the Master, paid homage to him and sat down to one side. It is the custom for Buddhas to greet visiting monks, and so the Master said this to Venerable Upasena: “I hope you are keeping well, Upasena, I hope you are comfortable; I hope you are not tired from travelling."
“We are keeping well, Master, we are comfortable; we are not tired from travelling."
3
One of Venerable Upasena’s students was seated not far from the Master, and the Master said to him: “Do you like rag-robes, monk?"
“I don’t like rag-robes, bhante."
“Why then do you wear them?"
“My preceptor wears them, and so I do it too."
Then the Master said this to Venerable Upasena: “Upasena, your followers are inspiring. How do you train them?"
“When anyone asks me for ordination, bhante, I tell them this: ‘I dwell in the forest, I eat almsfood, and I wear rag-robes. If you too will dwell in the forest, eat almsfood, and wear rag-robes, I will ordain you.’ If they agree, I ordain them; otherwise I don’t. Likewise when anyone asks me for dependence. It is in this way, bhante, that I train my followers."
4
“Good, good, Upasena, you train your followers well. But do you know the agreement made by the Sangha of Sāvatthī?"
“No, bhante."
“The Sangha of Sāvatthī has made the following agreement: ‘The Master wishes to be on solitary retreat for three months. No one is to approach the Master except the one who brings him almsfood. Anyone who approaches the Master should be made to confess a pācittiya offence.’"
“Bhante, the Sangha of Sāvatthī will become known for this agreement. We, however, do not lay down new rules, nor do we abolish the old ones. We practice and undertake the training rules as they are."
“Good, good, Upasena. One should not lay down new rules, nor should one abolish the old ones. One should practice and undertake the training rules as they are. And, Upasena, I allow those monks who dwell in the forest, who eat almsfood, and who wear rag-robes to come and see me whenever they please."
5
At that time many monks were standing outside the gate, thinking, “We will make Venerable Upasena confess a pācittiya offence."
Then Venerable Upasena and his followers rose from their seats, paid homage to the Master, circumambulated him with their right side towards him, and departed. Those monks then said this to Venerable Upasena: “Upasena, do you know the agreement of the Sangha of Sāvatthī?"
“The Master asked me the same question, and I replied that I didn’t. He then told me what it was, and I said: ‘Bhante, the Sangha of Sāvatthī will become known for this agreement. We, however, do not lay down new rules, nor do we abolish the old ones. We practice and undertake the training rules as they are.’ And the Master has allowed those monks who dwell in the forest, who eat almsfood, and who wear rag-robes to go and see him whenever they please."
6
Then those monks thought: “It’s true what Venerable Upasena says."
The monks heard that the Master had allowed those monks who dwell in the forest, who eat almsfood, and who wear rag-robes to go and see him whenever they please. Longing to see the Master, they discarded their blankets and undertook the practice of dwelling in the forest, of eating almsfood, and of wearing rag-robes.
Soon afterwards the Master, together with many monks, was touring the dwellings, and he saw discarded blankets here and there. He asked the monks: “Whose are these discarded blankets?"
7 The monks informed the Master. He then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Well then, monks, I will lay down a training rule for the monks for the following ten reasons: for the well-being of the Sangha, for the comfort of the Sangha, for the restraint of recalcitrant people, for the ease of well-behaved monks, for the restraint of corruptions that pertain to the present life and for warding off corruptions that pertain to future lives, to give rise to confidence in those without it and to increase the confidence of those who have it, for the continuation of the true Dhamma and for supporting the training. And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
8 “If a monk is getting a sitting-blanket made, he must incorporate a piece of 25 centimetresThis is according to Bhikkhu Ṭhanissaro’s estimate of the vidatthi, see the Appendix to the Buddhist Monastic Code Volume 1 . According to Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary (s.v. vitasti), the vidatthi is equivalent to 12 angulis, finger-breadths. from the border of an old blanket in order to make it ugly. If he gets a new sitting-blanket made without incorporating a piece of 25 centimetres from the border of an old blanket, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession."
Definitions
9 Sitting (cloth): if it has a border it is so called .
10Blanket: it is made by spreading out, not by weaving.
11Getting made: making or getting made.
12An old blanket: even worn once.
13He must incorporate a piece of 25 centimetres from the border [ … ] in order to make it ugly: to make it strong, he cuts out a circle or a four-sided piece, and he then incorporates it in one place or he spreads it out after pulling it apart.
14Without using a piece of 25 centimetres from the border of an old blanket: in the act of making a new sitting-blanket, or having one made, without incorporating a piece of 25 centimetres from the border of an old blanket, there is an offence of bad conduct. When he gets the sitting-blanket, it becomes subject to relinquishment.
The sitting-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 sitting-blanket which I got made without incorporating a piece of 25 centimetres from the border of an old blanket is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ … the Sangha should give … the Venerables should give … “I give this sitting-blanket back to the Venerable."
Permutations
15If 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.
16If he makes one, or gets one made, for the sake of another, he commits an offence of bad conduct.
Non-offences
17There is no offence: if he makes one incorporating a piece of 25 centimetres from the border of an old blanket; if he does not get such a piece and he makes one incorporating a smaller piece; if he does not get such a smaller piece and he makes one without; 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.
18The fifth rule, the training rule on sitting cloths, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi— "icchāmahaṃ, bhikkhave, temāsaṃ paṭisallīyituṃ. namhi kenaci upasankamitabbo, aññatra ekena piṇḍapātanīhārakenā"ti. "evaṃ, bhante"ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissuṇitvā nāssudha koci bhagavantaṃ upasankamati, aññatra ekena piṇḍapātanīhārakena. tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyā saṇghena katikā katā hoti— "icchatāvuso, bhagavā temāsaṃ paṭisallīyituṃ. na bhagavā kenaci upasankamitabbo, aññatra ekena piṇḍapātanīhārakena. yo bhagavantaṃ upasankamati so pācittiyaṃ desāpetabbo"ti.
2 atha kho āyasmā upaseno vangantaputto, sapariso yena bhagavā tenupasankami; upasankamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. āciṇṇaṃ kho panetaṃ buddhānaṃ bhagavantānaṃ āgantukehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṃ paṭisammodituṃ. atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṃ upasenaṃ vangantaputtaṃ etadavoca— "kacci vo, upasena, khamanīyaṃ kacci yāpanīyaṃ, kaccittha appakilamathena addhānaṃ āgatā"ti? "khamanīyaṃ, bhagavā, yāpanīyaṃ, bhagavā. appakilamathena ca mayaṃ, bhante, addhānaṃ āgatā"ti.
3 tena kho pana samayena āyasmato upasenassa vangantaputtassa saddhivihāriko bhikkhu bhagavato avidūre nisinno hoti. atha kho bhagavā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "manāpāni te, bhikkhu, paṃsukūlānī"ti? "na kho me, bhante, manāpāni paṃsukūlānī"ti. "kissa pana tvaṃ, bhikkhu, paṃsukūliko"ti? "upajjhāyo me, bhante, paṃsukūliko. evaṃ ahampi paṃsukūliko"ti. atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṃ upasenaṃ vangantaputtaṃ etadavoca— "pāsādikā kho tyāyaṃ, upasena, parisā. kathaṃ tvaṃ, upasena, parisaṃ vinesī"ti? "yo maṃ, bhante, upasampadaṃ yācati tamahaṃ evaṃ vadāmi— ‘ahaṃ kho, āvuso, āraññiko piṇḍapātiko paṃsukūliko. sace tvampi āraññiko bhavissasi piṇḍapātiko paṃsukūliko, evāhaṃ taṃ upasampādessāmī’ti. sace me paṭissuṇāti upasampādemi, no ce me paṭissuṇāti na upasampādemi. yo maṃ nissayaṃ yācati tamahaṃ evaṃ vadāmi— ‘ahaṃ kho, āvuso, āraññiko piṇḍapātiko paṃsukūliko. sace tvampi āraññiko bhavissasi piṇḍapātiko paṃsukūliko, evāhaṃ te nissayaṃ dassāmī’ti. sace me paṭissuṇāti nissayaṃ demi, no ce me paṭissuṇāti na nissayaṃ demi. evaṃ kho ahaṃ, bhante, parisaṃ vinemī"ti.
4 "sādhu sādhu, upasena. sādhu kho tvaṃ, upasena, parisaṃ vinesi. jānāsi pana tvaṃ, upasena, sāvatthiyā sanghassa katikan"ti? "na kho ahaṃ, bhante, jānāmi sāvatthiyā sanghassa katikan"ti. "sāvatthiyā kho, upasena, saṇghena katikā katā— ‘icchatāvuso, bhagavā temāsaṃ paṭisallīyituṃ. na bhagavā kenaci upasankamitabbo, aññatra ekena piṇḍapātanīhārakena. yo bhagavantaṃ upasankamati so pācittiyaṃ desāpetabbo’"ti. "paññāyissati, bhante, sāvatthiyā sangho sakāya katikāya, na mayaṃ apaññattaṃ paññapessāma paññattaṃ vā na samucchindissāma, yathāpaññattesu sikkhāpadesu samādāya vattissāmā"ti. "sādhu sādhu, upasena, apaññattaṃ na paññapetabbaṃ, paññattaṃ vā na samucchinditabbaṃ, yathāpaññattesu sikkhāpadesu samādāya vattitabbaṃ. anujānāmi, upasena, ye te bhikkhū āraññikā piṇḍapātikā paṃsukūlikā yathāsukhaṃ maṃ dassanāya upasankamantū"ti .
5 tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā honti— "mayaṃ āyasmantaṃ upasenaṃ vangantaputtaṃ pācittiyaṃ desāpessāmā"ti. atha kho āyasmā upaseno vangantaputto sapariso uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā pakkāmi. atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṃ upasenaṃ vangantaputtaṃ etadavocuṃ— "jānāsi tvaṃ, āvuso upasena, sāvatthiyā sanghassa katikan"ti. "bhagavāpi maṃ, āvuso, evamāha— ‘jānāsi pana tvaṃ, upasena, sāvatthiyā sanghassa katikan’ti? ‘na kho ahaṃ, bhante, jānāmi sāvatthiyā sanghassa katikan’ti. ‘sāvatthiyā kho, upasena, saṇghena katikā katā— icchatāvuso, bhagavā temāsaṃ paṭisallīyituṃ. na bhagavā kenaci upasankamitabbo, aññatra ekena piṇḍapātanīhārakena. yo bhagavantaṃ upasankamati so pācittiyaṃ desāpetabbo’ti. ‘paññāyissati, bhante, sāvatthiyā sangho sakāya katikāya, na mayaṃ apaññattaṃ paññapessāma paññattaṃ vā na samucchindissāma, yathāpaññattesu sikkhāpadesu samādāya vattissāmā’ti. anuññātāvuso, bhagavatā— ‘ye te bhikkhū āraññikā piṇḍapātikā paṃsukūlikā yathāsukhaṃ maṃ dassanāya upasankamantū’"ti.
6 atha kho te bhikkhū— "saccaṃ kho āyasmā upaseno āha— ‘na apaññattaṃ paññapetabbaṃ, paññattaṃ vā na samucchinditabbaṃ, yathāpaññattesu sikkhāpadesu samādāya vattitabban’"ti. assosuṃ kho bhikkhū— "anuññātā kira bhagavatā— ‘ye te bhikkhū āraññikā piṇḍapātikā paṃsukūlikā yathāsukhaṃ maṃ dassanāya upasankamantū’"ti. te bhagavantaṃ dassanaṃ pihentā santhatāni ujjhitvā āraññikangaṃ piṇḍapātikangaṃ paṃsukūlikangaṃ samādiyiṃsu. atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṃ senāsanacārikaṃ āhiṇḍanto addasa santhatāni tahaṃ tahaṃ ujjhitāni. passitvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "kassimāni, bhikkhave, santhatāni tahaṃ tahaṃ ujjhitānī"ti?
7 atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "tena hi, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññapessāmi dasa atthavase paṭicca— saṇghasuṭṭhutāya, saṇghaphāsutāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
8 "nisīdanasanthataṃ pana bhikkhunā kārayamānena purāṇasanthatassa sāmantā sugatavidatthi ādātabbā dubbaṇṇakaraṇāya, anādā ce bhikkhu purāṇasanthatassa sāmantā sugatavidatthiṃ navaṃ nisīdanasanthataṃ kārāpeyya, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyan"ti. (15:34)
9 nisīdanaṃ nāma sadasaṃ vuccati.
10 santhataṃ nāma santharitvā kataṃ hoti avāyimaṃ.
11 kārayamānenāti karonto vā kārāpento vā.
12 purāṇasanthataṃ nāma sakiṃ nivatthampi sakiṃ pārutampi.
13 sāmantā sugatavidatthi ādātabbā dubbaṇṇakaraṇāyāti thirabhāvāya vaṭṭaṃ vā caturassaṃ vā chinditvā ekadese vā santharitabbaṃ vijaṭetvā vā santharitabbaṃ.
14 anādā ce bhikkhu purāṇasanthatassa sāmantā sugatavidatthinti anādiyitvā purāṇasanthatassa sāmantā sugatavidatthiṃ navaṃ nisīdanasanthataṃ karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṃ, paṭilābhena nissaggiyaṃ hoti. nissajjitabbaṃ sanghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṃ … pe … "idaṃ me, bhante, nisīdanasanthataṃ anādiyitvā purāṇasanthatassa sāmantā sugatavidatthiṃ kārāpitaṃ nissaggiyaṃ. imāhaṃ sanghassa nissajjāmī"ti … pe … dadeyyāti … pe … dadeyyunti … pe … āyasmato dammīti.
15 attanā vippakataṃ attanā pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. attanā vippakataṃ parehi pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. parehi vippakataṃ attanā pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. parehi vippakataṃ parehi pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ.
16 aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
17 anāpatti— purāṇasanthatassa sāmantā sugatavidatthiṃ ādiyitvā karoti, alabhanto thokataraṃ ādiyitvā karoti, alabhanto anādiyitvā karoti, aññena kataṃ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, vitānaṃ vā bhūmattharaṇaṃ vā sāṇipākāraṃ vā bhisiṃ vā bibbohanaṃ vā karoti, ummattakassa ādikammikassāti.