The Chapter on the Rains
Interrupting the Rains
Toh 1-4
Degé Kangyur, vol. 1 (’dul ba, ka), folios 237.b–251.b
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Table of Contents
Summary
The Chapter on the Rains is the fourth of The Chapters on Monastic Discipline’s seventeen chapters. It sets out the Rite of Pledging to Settle for the Rains, in which monastics pledge to remain at a single site for the duration of the varṣā or summer rains. It concludes with a lengthy presentation of cases in which a monastic incurs no offense for interrupting the rains by prematurely leaving a site.
This is the third of the “Three Rites,” along with the Rite of Restoration and the Rite of Lifting Restrictions, which are set out in The Chapter on the Restoration Rite and The Chapter on Lifting Restrictions respectively. The regular observance of the “Three Rites” at an officially demarcated monastic site is considered a crucial component in ensuring the integrity of the monastics living there and nearby.
Acknowledgements
This text was translated from the Tibetan and checked against the Sanskrit original and Yijing’s Chinese translation by Robert Miller. The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Nathaniel Rich and John Canti edited the translation and the introduction, and Ven. Konchog Norbu copyedited the text. André Rodrigues was in charge of the digital publication process.
Text Body
The Chapter on the Rains
Interrupting the Rains
No Offense for Interrupting the Rains
“A monk who has pledged to settle for the rains might see another monk communicating with, informing, coaching, and recruiting other monks, working to create a schism among the saṅgha.74 Knowing about this, he might think, ‘There is a potential for a schism in the saṅgha at this site during the rains.’75
“A monk who has pledged to settle for the rains at that site might think, ‘I have pledged to settle for the rains at this site, yet this monk is communicating with, informing, coaching, and recruiting other monks, working to create a schism among the saṅgha. There is a potential for a schism in the saṅgha at this site during the rains. If I settle for the rains at this site and hostile feelings develop or unconsidered words are used,76 it will be a hindrance to my achieving what I have not yet achieved, realizing what I have not yet realized, and actualizing what I have not yet actualized, so I should leave this site.’
“There is no offense if he interrupts the rains on account of such conditions.
“A monk who has pledged to settle for the rains [F.250.b] might hear that in another monastery a monk is communicating with, informing, coaching, and recruiting other monks, working to create a schism among the saṅgha, and that there is a potential for a schism in the saṅgha at this site during the rains. If he thinks, ‘This monk is an acquaintance, friend, intimate, and companion, so I could prevent a schism in the saṅgha at that site during the rains if I went,’ the monk, once excused, may leave for up to seven days to attend to saṅgha business. It is well if he goes. He will be guilty of a breach if he does not. There will be no offense of interrupting the rains if seven days pass while he is tending to saṅgha business.
“A monk who has pledged to settle for the rains might hear that in another monastery a monk is communicating with, informing, coaching, and recruiting other monks, working to create a schism among the saṅgha, and that there is a potential for a schism in the saṅgha at this site during the rains. If he thinks, ‘Although this monk is not an acquaintance, friend, intimate, or companion, I could prevent a schism in the saṅgha at that site during the rains if I went,’ the monk, once excused, may leave for up to seven days to attend to saṅgha business. It is well if he goes. He will be guilty of a breach if he does not. [F.251.a] There will be no offense of interrupting the rains if seven days pass while he is tending to saṅgha business.”
Those Who Pledge to Settle
“After pledging to settle for the earlier three rainy months77 at a particular site, which is one of two that share provisions but perform the restoration rite separately, a monk might think,78 ‘Whether I live here or there, the provisions will run out.’79 If he does not make a pledge,80 his does not count as the earlier three rainy months at that site and he is guilty of a misdeed because of his pledge.81
“A monk might pledge to settle for the earlier three rainy months at a particular site. If, having made a pledge, he leaves to tend to some business but does not take a tally stick, and so forth, his does not count as the earlier three rainy months at that site and he is guilty of a misdeed because of his pledge.
“A monk might pledge to settle for the earlier three rainy months at a particular site. If, having made a pledge, he leaves to tend to some business after taking a tally stick but does not taking bedding, his does not count as the earlier three rainy months at that site and he is guilty of a misdeed because of his pledge.
“A monk might pledge to settle for the earlier three rainy months at a particular site. If, having made a pledge, he goes there, takes a tally stick and bedding, but does not settle for the rains, and leaves to tend to some business, his does not count as the earlier three rainy months at that site and he is guilty of a misdeed because of his pledge.
“A monk might pledge to settle for the earlier three rainy months at a particular site. If, having made a pledge, he takes a tally stick, takes bedding, and settles for the rains but goes, without having been excused, beyond the boundary for up to seven days to tend to some business, his does not count as the earlier three rainy months at that site and he is guilty of a misdeed because of his pledge. [F.251.b]
“A monk might pledge to settle for the earlier three rainy months at a particular site. If, having made a pledge, he takes a tally stick, takes bedding, settles for the rains, and goes, once excused, beyond the boundary for up to seven days to tend to some business, his would count as the earlier three rainy months at that site and he would not be guilty of a misdeed because of his pledge.
“There will be no offense of interrupting the rains if after seven days pass while he is tending to saṅgha business.”
The Twelve for Earlier and the Twelve for Later
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