TheravādaBu Pc 86HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
Vinaya PiṭakaBu Pc 86

Vinaya Piṭaka

Bu Pc 86

86. Sūcigharasikkhāpada

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English · Bhikkhu Brahmali

Making an inappropriate needle case Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu. At that time an ivory-worker had invited the monks who needed needle cases to ask for one. And the monks asked for many needle cases. Those who had small needle cases asked for large ones, and those who had large needle cases asked for small ones. The ivory-worker was so busy making needle cases for the monks that he was unable to make goods for sale. He could not make a living for himself, and his wives and children suffered. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics not have any sense of moderation and ask for many needle cases? This ivory-worker is so busy making needle cases for them that he’s unable to make goods for sale. He can’t make a living for himself, and his wives and children are suffering.” The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can those monks not have a sense of moderation and ask for many needle cases?” … “Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can those foolish men do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

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English · Bhikkhu Brahmali

Final ruling

‘If a monk has a needle case made from bone, ivory, or horn, it is to be destroyed, and he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

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English · Bhikkhu Brahmali

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. Bone: any kind of bone. Ivory: elephant tooth is what is meant. Horn: any kind of horn. Has made: if he makes one or has one made, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When he gets it, it is to be destroyed, and he is then to confess an offense entailing confession.

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English · Bhikkhu Brahmali

Permutations

If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3
English · Bhikkhu Brahmali

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if it is a toggle; if it is a fire kindler; if it is a buckle; if it is an ointment box; if it is an ointment stick; if it is a machete handle; if it is a water wiper; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

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Bu Pc 86English
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Bu Pc 860%

Vinaya Piṭaka

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Pāli text: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500 (M.L. Maniratana Bunnag Dhamma Society Fund), as published by SuttaCentral. Public domain. · Source ↗

Pāli text: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka, via SuttaCentral. Public domain.

Translated by Bhikkhu Brahmali. SuttaCentral, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). · Source ↗

Translated by Bhikkhu Brahmali (SuttaCentral), dedicated to the public domain via CC0. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

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