- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on plants Bhūtagāmavagga
20. The training rule on containing living beings 20. Sappāṇakasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Āḷavī at the Aggāḷava Shrine, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye. the monks there were doing building work. They poured water that they knew contained living beings onto grass and clay, and they had others do the same. Tena kho pana samayena āḷavakā bhikkhū navakammaṁ karontā jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcantipi siñcāpentipi. The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the monks at Āḷavī pour water that they know contains living beings onto grass and clay, and have others do the same?” “kathañhi nāma āḷavakā bhikkhū jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcissantipi siñcāpessantipī”ti.
After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho te bhikkhū āḷavake bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcathapi siñcāpethapī”ti?
“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcissathapi siñcāpessathapi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
Final ruling
‘If a monk pours water that he knows contains living beings onto grass or clay, or has it poured, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇaṁ vā mattikaṁ vā siñceyya vā siñcāpeyya vā, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yo panāti
- whoever … yo yādiso …pe…
- Monk: bhikkhūti
- …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. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
- He knows: Jānāti nāma
- he knows by himself or others have told him. sāmaṁ vā jānāti. Aññe vā tassa ārocenti.
- Pours: Siñceyyāti
- if he pours it himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. sayaṁ siñcati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
- Has poured: Siñcāpeyyāti
- if he asks another, he commits an offense entailing confession. aññaṁ āṇāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he only asks once, then even if the other pours a lot, he commits one offense entailing confession. Sakiṁ āṇatto bahukampi siñcati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If it contains living beings, and he perceives it as such, and he pours it onto grass or clay, or he has it poured, he commits an offense entailing confession. Sappāṇake sappāṇakasaññī tiṇaṁ vā mattikaṁ vā siñcati vā siñcāpeti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it contains living beings, but he is unsure of it, and he pours it onto grass or clay, or he has it poured, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Sappāṇake vematiko tiṇaṁ vā mattikaṁ vā siñcati vā siñcāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it contains living beings, but he does not perceive it as such, and he pours it onto grass or clay, or he has it poured, there is no offense. Sappāṇake appāṇakasaññī tiṇaṁ vā mattikaṁ vā siñcati vā siñcāpeti vā, anāpatti.
If it does not contain living beings, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Appāṇake sappāṇakasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it does not contain living beings, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Appāṇake vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it does not contain living beings, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense. Appāṇake appāṇakasaññī, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is unintentional; asañcicca, if he is not mindful; assatiyā, if he does not know; ajānantassa, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on containing living beings, the tenth, is finished. Sappāṇakasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.
The second subchapter on plants is finished. Bhūtagāmavaggo dutiyo.
This is the summary: Tassuddānaṁ
“Plant, with evasion, complaining, Bhūtaṁ aññāya ujjhāyaṁ, The two with departing; pakkamantena te duve; Before, throwing out, detachable, Pubbe nikkaḍḍhanāhacca, Door, and containing living beings.” dvāraṁ sappāṇakena cāti.