Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga - Pācittiya 86: Not to make or have made a needle box in ivory, bone or horn.
- Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Brahmali. (More copyright information)
Origin story
1At 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.”
2The 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:
Final ruling
3‘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.’”
Definitions
4A: 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.
5Bone: any kind of bone.
6Ivory: elephant tooth is what is meant.
7Horn: any kind of horn.
8Has 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.
Permutations
9If 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.
10If 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.
Non-offenses
11There 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 an adz handle; if it is a water wiper; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
12The training rule on needle cases, the fourth, is finished.
1p_2V_1520, msdiv516Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarena dantakārena bhikkhū pavāritā honti— "yesaṁ ayyānaṁ sūcigharena attho ahaṁ sūcigharenā"ti. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū bahū sūcighare viññāpenti. Yesaṁ khuddakā sūcigharā te mahante sūcighare viññāpenti. Yesaṁ mahantā sūcigharā te khuddake sūcighare viññāpenti. Atha kho so dantakāro bhikkhūnaṁ bahū sūcighare karonto na sakkoti aññaṁ vikkāyikaṁ bhaṇḍaṁ kātuṁ, attanāpi na yāpeti, puttadāropissa kilamati. Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: "Kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū sūcighare viññāpessanti. Ayaṁ imesaṁ bahū sūcighare karonto na sakkoti aññaṁ vikkāyikaṁ bhaṇḍaṁ kātuṁ, attanāpi na yāpeti, puttadāropissa kilamatī"ti.
2p_2V_1521Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: "Kathañhi nāma bhikkhū na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū sūcighare viññāpessantī"ti … pe …
"Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū sūcighare viññāpentī"ti?
"Saccaṁ, bhagavā"ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū sūcighare viññāpessanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
3p_2V_1522, msdiv517"Yo pana bhikkhu aṭṭhimayaṁ vā dantamayaṁ vā visāṇamayaṁ vā sūcigharaṁ kārāpeyya bhedanakaṁ, pācittiyan"ti.
4p_2V_1523, msdiv518Yo panā'ti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhū'ti … pe … ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
5p_2V_1524Aṭṭhi nāma yaṁ kiñci aṭṭhi.
6p_2V_1525Danto nāma hatthidanto vuccati.
7p_2V_1526Visāṇaṁ nāma yaṁ kiñci visāṇaṁ.
8p_2V_1527Kārāpeyyā'ti karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṁ. Paṭilābhena bhinditvā pācittiyaṁ desetabbaṁ.
9p_2V_1528, msdiv519Attanā vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Attanā vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Parehi vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Parehi vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
10p_2V_1529Aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
11p_2V_1530, msdiv520Anāpatti— gaṇṭhikāya, araṇike, vidhe, añjaniyā, añjanisalākāya, vāsijaṭe, udakapuñchaniyā, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.
12p_2V_1531Sūcigharasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.