Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 18: The Training Rule on Upper Stories.
- 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 two monks were staying in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha which had an upper storey, one staying below and one above. The monk above sat down hastily on a bed with detachable legs. The legs fell off and hit the monk below on the head, and he cried out. Monks came rushing to and asked him, “Why did you cry out?" And he informed them of what had happened.
The monks of few desires … complained and criticised them: “How can a monk sit down hastily on a bed with detachable legs on an upper storey in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha?"
2 After criticising that monk in many ways, they informed the Master. … “Is it true, monk, that you do this?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised him: “ … Foolish man, how can you sit down hastily on a bed with detachable legs on a upper storey in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
3 “If a monk, in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper storey, he commits an offence entailing confession."
Definitions
4 A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who is ordained by a complete Sangha through a procedure of one motion and three announcements, which is unchallengeable and fit to stand; this sort of monk is meant in this case.
5 Belonging to the Sangha: a dwelling given to the Sangha, given up to the Sangha.
6 Upper storey: a man of average height does not hit his head.
7 A bed with detachable legs: inserting the limbs, it stands.
8 A bench with detachable legs: inserting the limbs, it stands.
9 Sits down: if he sits down on it, he commits an offence entailing confession.
10Lies down: if he lies down on it, he commits an offence entailing confession.
Permutations
11If it belongs to the Sangha, and he perceives it as belonging to the Sangha, and he sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper storey, he commits an offence entailing confession. If it belongs to the Sangha, but he has doubts about it … If it belongs to the Sangha, but he perceives it as belonging to an individual, and he sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper storey, he commits an offence entailing confession.
12If it belongs to an individual, but he perceives it as belonging to the Sangha, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it belongs to an individual, but has doubt about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it belongs to an individual, and he perceives it as belonging to an individual, but that individual is not himself, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it belongs to himself, there is no offence.
Non-offences
13There is no offence: if there is no upper storey; if the upper storey is so low that one hits the head; if the lower storey is not in use; if the upper storey has floorboards; if bolts to fasten the legs have been given; if he stands on it to get hold of something or to put something up; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
14The eighth rule, the training rule on upper stories, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena dve bhikkhū saṇghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā eko heṭṭhā viharati, eko upari. uparimo bhikkhu āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ sahasā abhinisīdi. mañcapādo nippatitvā heṭṭhimassa bhikkhuno matthake avatthāsi. so bhikkhu vissaramakāsi. bhikkhū upadhāvitvā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocuṃ— "kissa tvaṃ, āvuso, vissaramakāsī"ti? atha kho so bhikkhu bhikkhūnaṃ etamatthaṃ ārocesi. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma bhikkhu saṇghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ sahasā abhinisīdissatī"ti.
2 atha kho te bhikkhū taṃ bhikkhuṃ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … "saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, bhikkhu, saṇghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ sahasā abhinisīdasī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tvaṃ, moghapurisa, saṇghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ sahasā abhinisīdissasi. netaṃ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
3 "yo pana bhikkhu saṇghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ vā pīṭhaṃ vā abhinisīdeyya vā abhinipajjeyya vā, pācittiyan"ti. (18:67)
4 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
5 saṇghiko nāma vihāro saṇghassa dinno hoti pariccatto.
6 vehāsakuṭi nāma majjhimassa purisassa asīsaghaṭṭā.
7 āhaccapādako nāma mañco ange vijjhitvā ṭhito hoti.
8 āhaccapādakaṃ nāma pīṭhaṃ ange vijjhitvā ṭhitaṃ hoti.
9 abhinisīdeyyāti tasmiṃ abhinisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
10 abhinipajjeyyāti tasmiṃ abhinipajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
11 saṇghike saṇghikasaññī uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ vā pīṭhaṃ vā abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. saṇghike vematiko … pe … saṇghike puggalikasaññī uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṃ mañcaṃ vā pīṭhaṃ vā abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
12 puggalike saṇghikasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. puggalike vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. puggalike puggalikasaññī aññassa puggalike, āpatti dukkaṭassa. attano puggalike, anāpatti.
13 anāpatti— avehāsakuṭiyā sīsaghaṭṭāya heṭṭhā aparibhogaṃ hoti, padarasañcitaṃ hoti, paṭāṇi dinnā hoti, tasmiṃ ṭhito gaṇhati vā laggeti vā, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.