Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga - Pācittiya 57: Not to wash more than twice per month if the body is not dirty.
- Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Brahmali. (More copyright information)
Origin story
1At one time when the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary, the monks were bathing in the hot springs. Just then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha went to the hot springs, intending to wash his hair. He waited respectfully for the monks to finish, but they kept on bathing until dark. Only then was King Bimbisāra able to wash his hair. And because the town gates had been shut, he had to spend the night outside the city. In the morning, with his make-up still on, he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down. The Buddha said to him:
“Great king, why have you come so early in the morning, with your make-up still on?”
The King told him what had happened. The Buddha then instructed, inspired, and gladdened him with a teaching, after which the King got up from his seat, bowed down, circumambulated the Buddha with his right side toward him, and left.
2Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:
“Is it true, monks, that monks bathed without moderation, even after seeing the King?”
“It’s true, Sir.”
The Buddha rebuked them … “How could those foolish men act in this way? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
3‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”
4In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
5Soon afterwards, because they were afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not bathe when it was hot or when they had a fever, and they went to sleep covered in sweat. As a consequence, their robes and beds were soiled. They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:
“Monks, if it’s hot or you have a fever, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
6‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. This is the appropriate occasion: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of the hot season and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season.’”
7In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
8Soon afterwards some monks were sick. The monks who were looking after them asked, “I hope you’re bearing up? I hope you’re getting better?”
“Previously we bathed at intervals of less than a half-month, and then we were comfortable. But now that the Buddha has prohibited this, we don’t bathe because we’re afraid of wrongdoing. Because of that we’re not comfortable.”
They told the Buddha. …
“Monks, I allow a sick monk to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
9‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of the hot season and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick.’”
10In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
11Soon afterwards the monks were doing building work, but because they were afraid of wrongdoing they did not bathe. As a consequence, they went to sleep covered in sweat, and their robes and beds were soiled. They told the Buddha. …
“Monks, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month when you’re working.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
12‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of the hot season and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick; he is working.’”
13In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
14Soon afterwards the monks were traveling, but because they were afraid of wrongdoing they did not bathe. As a consequence, they went to sleep covered in sweat, and their robes and beds were soiled. They told the Buddha. …
“Monks, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month when you’re traveling.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
15‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of the hot season and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick; he is working; he is traveling.’”
16In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
17Soon afterwards a number of monks were making robes out in the open, when they were hit by dusty winds and fine rain. But because they were afraid of wrongdoing, they did not bathe afterwards, and they went to sleep while still moist. As a consequence, their robes and beds were soiled. They told the Buddha. …
“Monks, if there is wind and rain, I allow you to bathe at intervals of less than a half-month.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
Final ruling
18‘If a monk bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of the hot season and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; he is sick; he is working; he is traveling; there is wind and rain.’”
Definitions
19A: 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.
20At intervals of less than a half-month: after less than a half-month.
21Bathes: if he bathes with bath powder or soap, then for every effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When the bath is finished, he commits an offense entailing confession.
22Except on an appropriate occasion: unless it is an appropriate occasion.
23The hot season: the last month-and-a-half of summer.
The fever season: the first month of the rainy season. During the two-and-a-half-month period of the hot season and the fever season, he may bathe.
24He is sick: he is not comfortable without bathing. If he is sick, he may bathe.
25He is working: even if he just sweeps the yard of a building. If he is working, he may bathe.
26He is traveling: if he intends to travel six kilometers, he may bathe; while traveling, he may bathe; after he has traveled, he may bathe.
27There is wind and rain: monks are hit by dusty winds, and two or three drops of rain fall on their bodies. If there is wind and rain, they may bathe.
Permutations
28If it is an interval of less than a half-month, and he perceives it as less, and he bathes, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an interval of less than a half-month, but he is unsure of it, and he bathes, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an interval of less than a half-month, but he perceives it as more, and he bathes, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.
29If it is an interval of more than a half-month, but he perceives it as less, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an interval of more than a half-month, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an interval of more than a half-month, and he perceives it as more, there is no offense.
Non-offenses
30There is no offense: if it is an appropriate occasion; if he bathes at intervals of a half-month; if he bathes at intervals of more than a half-month; if he bathes while crossing a body of water; if he is outside the central Ganges plain; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
31The training rule on bathing, the seventh is finished.
1p_2V_1088, msdiv357Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū tapode nahāyanti. Tena kho pana samayena rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro "sīsaṁ nahāyissāmī"ti tapodaṁ gantvā— "yāvāyyā nahāyantī"ti ekamantaṁ paṭimānesi. Bhikkhū yāva samandhakārā nahāyiṁsu. Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro vikāle sīsaṁ nahāyitvā, nagaradvāre thakite bahinagare vasitvā, kālasseva asambhinnena vilepanena yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ seniyaṁ bimbisāraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
"Kissa tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālasseva āgato asambhinnena vilepanenā"ti?
Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesi. Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ seniyaṁ bimbisāraṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi. Atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
2p_2V_1089Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṇghaṁ sannipātāpetvā bhikkhū paṭipucchi:
"Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū rājānampi passitvā na mattaṁ jānitvā nahāyantī"ti?
"Saccaṁ, bhagavā"ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā rājānampi passitvā na mattaṁ jānitvā nahāyissanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
3p_2V_1090"Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, pācittiyan"ti.
4p_2V_1091Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
5p_2V_1092, msdiv358Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, sedagatena gattena sayanti. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ … pe …
Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, uṇhasamaye pariḷāhasamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
6p_2V_1093"Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo pariḷāhasamayo— ayaṁ tattha samayo"ti.
7p_2V_1094Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
8p_2V_1095, msdiv359Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū gilānā honti. Gilānapucchakā bhikkhū gilāne bhikkhū etadavocuṁ: "kaccāvuso, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan"ti?
"Pubbe mayaṁ, āvuso, orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyāma, tena no phāsu hoti; idāni pana ‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti kukkuccāyantā na nahāyāma, tena no na phāsu hotī"ti.
Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ … pe …
Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
9p_2V_1096"Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo— ayaṁ tattha samayo"ti.
10p_2V_1097Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
11p_2V_1098, msdiv360Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū navakammaṁ katvā kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti. Te sedagatena gattena sayanti. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ … pe …
Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, kammasamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
12p_2V_1099"Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo— ayaṁ tattha samayo"ti.
13p_2V_1100Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
14p_2V_1101, msdiv361Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū addhānaṁ gantvā kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti. Te sedagatena gattena sayanti. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ … pe …
Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, addhānagamanasamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
15p_2V_1102"Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo— ayaṁ tattha samayo"ti.
16p_2V_1103Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
17p_2V_1104, msdiv362Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ajjhokāse cīvarakammaṁ karontā sarajena vātena okiṇṇā honti. Devo ca thokaṁ thokaṁ phusāyati. Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā na nahāyanti, kilinnena gattena sayanti. Cīvarampi senāsanampi dussati. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ … pe …
Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, vātavuṭṭhisamaye orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyituṁ.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
18p_2V_1105, msdiv363"Yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamāsaṁ nahāyeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānanti vassānassa paṭhamo māso iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo, pariḷāhasamayo, gilānasamayo, kammasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo, vātavuṭṭhisamayo— ayaṁ tattha samayo"ti.
19p_2V_1106, msdiv364Yo panā'ti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhū'ti … pe … ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
20p_2V_1107Orenaddhamāsan'ti ūnakaddhamāsaṁ.
21p_2V_1108Nahāyeyyā'ti cuṇṇena vā mattikāya vā nahāyati, payoge payoge dukkaṭaṁ. Nahānapariyosāne, āpatti pācittiyassa.
22p_2V_1109Aññatra samayā'ti ṭhapetvā samayaṁ.
23p_2V_1110Uṇhasamayo nāma diyaḍḍho māso seso gimhānaṁ. Pariḷāhasamayo nāma vassānassa paṭhamo māso "iccete aḍḍhateyyamāsā uṇhasamayo pariḷāhasamayo"ti nahāyitabbaṁ.
24p_2V_1111Gilānasamayo nāma yassa vinā nahānena na phāsu hoti. Gilānasamayoti nahāyitabbaṁ.
25p_2V_1112Kammasamayo nāma antamaso pariveṇampi sammaṭṭhaṁ hoti. "Kammasamayo"ti nahāyitabbaṁ.
26p_2V_1113Addhānagamanasamayo nāma "addhayojanaṁ gacchissāmī"ti nahāyitabbaṁ, gacchantena nahāyitabbaṁ, gatena nahāyitabbaṁ.
27p_2V_1114Vātavuṭṭhisamayo nāma bhikkhū sarajena vātena okiṇṇā honti, dve vā tīṇi vā udakaphusitāni kāye patitāni honti. "Vātavuṭṭhisamayo"ti nahāyitabbaṁ.
28p_2V_1115, msdiv365 Ūnakaddhamāse ūnakasaññī, aññatra samayā, nahāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Ūnakaddhamāse vematiko, aññatra samayā, nahāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Ūnakaddhamāse atirekasaññī, aññatra samayā, nahāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
29p_2V_1116Atirekaddhamāse ūnakasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Atirekaddhamāse vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Atirekaddhamāse atirekasaññī, anāpatti.
30p_2V_1117, msdiv366Anāpatti— samaye, addhamāsaṁ nahāyati, atirekaddhamāsaṁ nahāyati, pāraṁ gacchanto nahāyati, sabbapaccantimesu janapadesu, āpadāsu, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.
31p_2V_1118Nahānasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.