Pācittiya 42: The Training Rule on the Use of Luxurious Couches and Chairs.
- Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Brahmali. (More copyright information)
Origin story
1At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nuns were using high and luxurious couches. When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them, “How can nuns use high and luxurious couches? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”
2The nuns heard the complaints of those people, and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns do this?” …
“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”
“It’s true, Sir.”
The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
Final ruling
3‘If a nun uses a high or luxurious couch, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”
Definitions
4A: whoever … Nun: … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.
5A high couch: one that is oversize is what is meant.
6A luxurious couch: one decorated with images of predatory animals.
7Uses: if she sits down or lies down on it, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Non-offenses
8There is no offense: if she uses a high couch after cutting off the legs; if she uses a luxurious couch after removing the decorations with images of predatory animals; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.
The second training rule is finished.
1p_2V_3002, msdiv982Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjanti. Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: “Kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
2p_2V_3003Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … pe … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: “Kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissantī”ti … pe …
“Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjantī”ti?
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
3p_2V_3004, msdiv983“Yā pana bhikkhunī āsandiṁ vā pallaṅkaṁ vā paribhuñjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
4p_2V_3005, msdiv984Yā panā'ti yā yādisā … pe … bhikkhunī'ti … pe … ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.
5p_2V_3006Āsandī nāma atikkantappamāṇā vuccati.
6p_2V_3007Pallaṅko nāma vāḷehi kato hoti.
7p_2V_3008Paribhuñjeyyā'ti tasmiṁ abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
8p_2V_3009, msdiv985Anāpatti—āsandiyā pāde chinditvā paribhuñjati, pallaṅkassa vāḷe bhinditvā paribhuñjati, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.