Confession 72

Mahāsaṅghika Vinaya, 38th fascicle.

Translated by the Indian Tipiṭaka master Buddhabhadra together with Fǎxiǎn during the Eastern Jin dynasty.

Explanation of the 141 pācittiya rules, part two.

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthi. At that time, there was someone called Gartodara, who went forth among non-Buddhist renunciates. His parents went forth in the Buddha’s dhamma. When Gartodara had no robe in deep winter, he went to his mother, who was living with wild beasts. His mother then compassionalely thought: “I’ve a new, washed, dyed, and cleaned upper robe, that I’ll relinquish, and give him.” After getting it, he put it on, entered a bar, and sat down. The lay people became angry and said: “This person of wrong view, this donkey feeding on alcoholic dregs, wears the banner of the noble ones.” When the bhikkhunīs heard this, they told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. The Buddha said: “Summon that bhikkhunī.” When she came, the Buddha asked her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Why did you take a robe, and give it to a non-Buddhist renunciate? From now on, it’s no longer allowed to offer robes to non-Buddhist renunciates with one’s own hands.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Sāvatthī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī gives a renunciate’s robe with her own hands to lay people or non-Buddhist renunciates, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Lay people” means householders. “Non-Buddhist renunciates” means those gone forth in a non-Buddhist religion. “Giving with one’s hand” means giving with the hand, and (the other person) receiving with the hand. “A renunciate’s robe” means the banner of wise and noble ones. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. It’s not allowed to give a renunciate’s robe with one’s own hands to lay people or non-Buddhist renunciates. If the bhikkhunī is virtuous in the precepts, and lay women and children ask her for a piece of a worn-out robe as protection from misfortune, she may not give with her own hands. She should send a female attendant to give it. If a bhikkhu gives a renunciate’s robe with his own hands to lay people or non-Buddhist renunciates, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. If a bhikkhu is virtuous in the precepts, and people ask for a piece of a worn-out robe, wishing to protect themselves from misfortune, he should have an attendant give it. It’s not allowed to give a large piece. One should give a small piece. This is what the World-honored One said.