- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on precious things Ratanavagga
89. The training rule on sitting mats 89. Nisīdanasikkhāpada
Origin story
First sub-story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. he allowed sitting mats for the monks. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ nisīdanaṁ anuññātaṁ hoti. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū—Knowing this, the monks from the group of six used sitting mats that were inappropriate in size. “bhagavatā nisīdanaṁ anuññātan”ti appamāṇikāni nisīdanāni dhārenti. The sitting mats hung down from beds and benches, both in front and behind. Mañcassapi pīṭhassapi puratopi pacchatopi olambenti.
The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the monks from the group of six use such sitting mats?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū appamāṇikāni nisīdanāni dhāressantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, appamāṇikāni nisīdanāni dhārethā”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, appamāṇikāni nisīdanāni dhāressatha. 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—
Preliminary ruling
‘If a monk is having a sitting mat made, it is to be made the right size. “Nisīdanaṁ pana bhikkhunā kārayamānena pamāṇikaṁ kāretabbaṁ. This is the right size: two standard handspans long and one-and-a-half wide. Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ—dīghaso dve vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ diyaḍḍhaṁ. If it exceeds that, it is to be cut down, and he commits an offense entailing confession.’” Taṁ atikkāmayato chedanakaṁ pācittiyan”ti.
In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
Second sub-story
At that time there was a big monk called Venerable Udāyī. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī mahākāyo hoti. After putting out his sitting mat in front of the Buddha, he stretched it on all sides before sitting down. So bhagavato purato nisīdanaṁ paññapetvā samantato samañchamāno nisīdati. The Buddha asked him, Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca—“Udāyī, why are you stretching the sitting mat on all sides, “kissa tvaṁ, udāyi, nisīdanaṁ samantato samañchasi; as if an old hide?” seyyathāpi purāṇāsikoṭṭho”ti?
“Because, sir, the sitting mat you’ve allowed for the monks is too small.” “Tathā hi pana, bhante, bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ atikhuddakaṁ nisīdanaṁ anuññātan”ti.
Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
“Monks, I allow a border of one handspan for the sitting mat. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, nisīdanassa dasaṁ vidatthiṁ.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
Final ruling
‘If a monk is having a sitting mat made, it should be made the right size. “Nisīdanaṁ pana bhikkhunā kārayamānena pamāṇikaṁ kāretabbaṁ. This is the right size: two standard handspans long and one-and-a-half wide, and a border of one handspan. Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ—dīghaso dve vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ diyaḍḍhaṁ. Dasā vidatthi. If it exceeds that, it is to be cut down, and he commits an offense entailing confession.’” Taṁ atikkāmayato chedanakaṁ pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A sitting mat: Nisīdanaṁ nāma
- one with a border is what is meant. sadasaṁ vuccati.
- Is having made: Kārayamānenāti
- making it himself or having it made, it should be made the right size. karonto vā kārāpento vā pamāṇikaṁ kāretabbaṁ. This is the right size: two standard handspans long and one-and-a-half wide, and a border of one handspan. Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ— dīghaso dve vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ diyaḍḍhaṁ. Dasā vidatthi. If he makes one, or has one made, that exceeds that, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. Taṁ atikkāmetvā karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṁ. When he gets it, it is to be cut down, and he is then to confess an offense entailing confession. Paṭilābhena chinditvā pācittiyaṁ desetabbaṁ.
Permutations
If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. Attanā vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. Attanā vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. Parehi vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. Parehi vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If he gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he makes it the right size; pamāṇikaṁ karoti, if he makes it smaller than the right size; ūnakaṁ karoti, if he gets one made by another that exceeds the right size and then cuts it down before using it; aññena kataṁ pamāṇātikkantaṁ paṭilabhitvā chinditvā paribhuñjati, if he makes a canopy, a floor cover, a cloth screen, a mattress, or a pillow; vitānaṁ vā bhūmattharaṇaṁ vā sāṇipākāraṁ vā bhisiṁ vā bibbohanaṁ vā karoti, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on sitting mats, the seventh, is finished. Nisīdanasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.