Vassūpanāyika Khandhaka — Further Regulations (continued)

Abandoning Vassāvāsa due to Antarāya

Vassaccheda but anāpatti; no pavāraṇā:

jīvitantarāya
brahmacariyantarāya
lack of essential requirements such as food and medicine
vāḷa: wild animals attack, bite, kill them
cora: harass, plunder, assault them
pisāca: possess, drain their vitality
aggi: destroys the monastery or the piṇḍapāta village
udaka: destroys the monastery or the piṇḍapāta village
Note: under allowances beginning with “because of fear of wild beasts…” to schism:
- no offence is incurred by breaking the rains residence no permission to perform the pavāraṇā in such circumstances

If Villagers Leave

Piṇḍapāta village was taken over by robbers
Villagers moved elsewhere
- Buddha:
  - Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, yena gāmo tena gantuṃ: monks, I allow you to go to the place where the village (the villagers) is situated
Villagers divided into two groups
- Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, yena bahutarā tena gantuṃ: monks, I allow you to go to the side where the greater number of villagers (majority) reside
- if the bigger group have no faith of confidence (assaddhā appasannā)
  - Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, yena saddhā pasannā tena gantuṃ
If they moved to a nearby place: go there for alms round and return
If they moved to a distant place: go there and return within the 7-day period
- if unable to return: reside there in a suitable place (sabhāgaṭṭhāna)
- Srtd: iminā vassacchedakāraṇe sati sattāhakaraṇīyena gantuṃ vaṭṭatīti dīpeti
- when residing in another place in this manner
  - if donors continue to offer the monks things such as sālākabhattas as before: inform them we are not residing there anymore
    - if donors say the offering is not to the vihāra / pāsāda but to you; reside wherever you wish and partake of it there: monks may accept and consume it according to their preference
    - if donors say to take it to the new dwelling place and consume it according to seniority: monks should do so
After Pavāraṇā
- if donors offer vassāvāsika offering:
  - monks who returned every 7 days and did not break the vassa should accept it
  - monks who didn’t do so: inform the vassa was broken
- if donors offer to those to whom they entrusted the dwelling place:
  - all monks may accept it

Distribution of Saṅghikaparikkhāra of the Original Vassāvāsa Monastery

Cīvarādivebhaṅgiyabhaṇḍaṃ: robes, etc. to be distributed
- Bhaṇḍa initially kept at the original rains residence and later brought to the new location to protect them: return bhaṇda to the original residence, inform and obtain the approval of the Saṅgha through apalokanakamma, and then distribute them
  - vmtv: idha āhaṭanti vihārato bahi āgataṭṭhāne ānītaṃ
- Same applies to produce / income received later from fields, lands, and other properties entrusted to kappiyakārakā to provide the four requisites for the venerable monks from the produce or income obtained from these
- Whether the saṅghika hvebhaṅgiyabhaṇḍa are within the vihāra-sīmā or outside it
  - not appropriate to inform only the monks who are staying outside the monastery boundary and distribute those requesites merely with the approval of those monks
  - there is no obstacle for apalokanakamma
  - bhaṇḍa should be distributed within the vihārasīmā with apalokana
  - v-a: saṅghikañhi vebhaṅgiyabhaṇḍaṃ antovihāre vā bahisīmāya vā hotu, bahisīmāya ṭhitānaṃ apaloketvā bhājetuṃ na vaṭṭati. ubhayattha ṭhitampi pana antosīmāya ṭhitānaṃ apaloketvā bhājetuṃ vaṭṭatiyeva

Insufficient / Unsuitable Food / Medicine as Antarāya

Vassaccheda but anāpatti:

na labhanti lūkhassa vā paṇītassa vā bhojanassa yāvadatthaṃ pāripūriṃ: insufficient / unsuitable food (coarse / superior)
asappāyabhojana: unsuitable food for them
asappāyabhesajja: unsuitable medicine for them
lack of appropriate attendant or supporter

Brahmacariyantarāya Protocol

Vassaccheda but anāpatti: allowed to leave to prevent the disturbance or corruption of the mind, thinkin: “lahuparivattaṃ kho cittaṃ vuttaṃ bhagavatā, siyāpi me brahmacariyassa antarāyo”
Brahmacariyantarāya:
- greed-inducing invitations regarding wealth, land, cattle, servants, marriage, relationships, etc. made by itthī, purisa, rāja, cora, vesī, thullakumārī, paṇḍaka, ñāti,
  - vesī: prostitute/courtesan
  - thullakumārī: unmarried mature woman
- greed-inducing situations such as finding an ownerless treasure

Leaving due to Saṅghabheda

Intention: preserve harmony in the Saṅgha, prevent schism, reconcile an arisen schism, prevent the heavy kamma of Saṅghabheda
Consequence: vassaccheda but anāpatti
Situations:
- to prevent a Saṅghabheda attempted by bhikkhus
  - in his presence
    - V: passati sambahule bhikkhū saṅghabhedāya parakkamante. Tatra ce bhikkhuno evaṃ hoti, ‘garuko kho saṅghabhedo vutto bhagavatā; mā mayi sammukhībhūte saṅgho bhijjī’ti
  - on another monastery: he hears monks there are attempting to cause a Saṅghabheda
    - to admonish directly his friendly monks at another monastery: schismatic monks there are his friends
      - admonishment: “A Saṅghabheda is a serious offence. May you not find a Saṅghabheda pleasing. Do not approve of it.
    - to admonish through his own friends: schismatics are not his friends but their friends are his friends, he goes to have his friends asmonish the schismatics
- to reconcile an arisen Saṅghabheda caused by bhikkhus
  - including his friends
    - saṅgho bhinno: here, schism is imminent or in which there has arisen a suspicion that the Saṅgha is about to become divided
      - V-a: saṅgho bhinnoti ettha bhinne saṅghe gantvā karaṇīyaṃ natthi, yo pana ‘Bhijjissatī’ti āsaṅkito, taṃ sandhāya ‘Bhinno’ti vuttaṃ”
  - to get his friends to admonish the schismatics
- to prevent a Saṅghabheda attempted by bhikkhunīs:
  - V: idha pana, bhikkhave, vassūpagato bhikkhu suṇāti – ‘Amukasmiṃ kira āvāse sambahulā bhikkhuniyo saṅghabhedāya parakkamantī’ti
  - if they are his friends: go there to admonish them
  - if they are friends of the schismatics: go there to have them admonish the schismatics
- to reconcile an arisen Saṅghabheda caused by bhikkhunīs:
  - V-a:
    - this refers to when there is a suspicion that bhikkhus, encouraged/supported (anubalaṁ katvā) by bhikkhunīs, may cause a schism
    - the bhikkhunīs cannot do it themselves – na kho upāli bhikkhunī saṅghaṃ bhindati
      - also applies to any non-bhikkhu
      - Bhikkhu
      - pakatatto
      - samānasaṃvāsako
    - samānasīmāyaṃ ṭhito
    - bhikkhunīhi saṅgho bhinno: schism is imminent / suspicion arises about it
  - if the bhikkhunīs are his friends: go there to admonish them
  - if not: go there to have one’s friends admonish them

Anuññā: Vassūpanāyika in Vajjādi

Vassūpanāyika in a Vaja

Background & 2 Anuññā
- monk wished to spend the rains at a cowherds’ settlement (vajo; gopālakānaṃ nivāsaṭṭhānaṃ)
- Buddha was informed and allowed: Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, vaje vassaṃ upagantuṃ
- cowherds and their cattle left
- Buddha was informed and allowed: Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, yena vajo tena gantuṃ: allowed to go to where the cowherds have gone together with the herd of cattle
Vassaccheda or Not

In general: V-a: no vassaccheda; no āpatti; can perform pavāraṇā: vajena saddhiṃ gatassa vassacchede anāpatti
- applies to vaja, sattha, and nāvā: vaje satthe nāvāyanti tīsu ṭhānesu natthi vassacchede āpatti, pavāretuñca labhati
  - note: here, not nimittattha sattamī
In detail:
- no vassaccheda or āpatti and can do pavāraṇā since he merely leaves the physical dwelling
  - no vassaccheda
    - Khu-si-abhi-ṭ: vassacchede: here means departing without the intention of returning because:
      - of the aforesaid allowance
      - sattha and nāvā are, by their very nature, things that continually move from place to place
      - notes:
        
        vaja is given an allowance since it is not naturally moving; sattha and nava do not need an allowance since they naturally move
        
        vassacchedeti ca ‘anujānāmi, bhikkhave, yena vajo tena gantu’nti vuttattā, satthassa nāvāya ca gamanasabhāveneva ṭhitattā ca vassūpagataṭṭhāne avasitvā aññattha gamanamattaṃ sandhāya vuttanti veditabbaṃ
    - Vjrb-ṭ: although one leaves, there is no vassaccheda: vajena saddhiṃ gatassa vassacchede anāpattīti vassacchedo na hotīti kira adhippāyo
  - anāpatti because the residence is undertaken with the cowherds based on this allowance
    - Srtd-ṭ: tehi saddhiṃ gacchantasseva natthi āpatti
    - usually, anapekkhagamana is āpatti: yo pakkameyyāti ettha anapekkhagamanena vā aññattha aruṇaṃ uṭṭhāpanena vā āpatti veditabbā
- leaving due to āpadā: vassaccheda but anāpatti
  - idha pana, bhikkhave, vassūpagatā bhikkhū vāḷehi ubbāḷhā honti. gaṇhantipi paripātentipi. eseva antarāyoti pakkamitabbaṃ. anāpatti vassacchedassa.
- Srt-ṭ: if he leaves them and travels alone: vassaccheda, dkṭ, no pavāraṇā
  - viyujjitvā gamane pana āpattiyeva, pavāretuñca na labhati
Summary:
- folowing cowherds, ship, caravan: no vassaccheda or āpatti; can do pavāraṇā
- if one abandons them: vassaccheda, āpatti, no pavāraṇā

Vassūpanāyika in a Sattha

Background & Anuññā
- A monk wished to spend the rains travelling with a sattha (merchant caravan)
- Buddha was reported and allowed it: Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, satthe vassaṃ upagantuṃ
Protocol on Observance Day & Pavāraṇā Day
- On the vassa entering day:
  - inform caravan devotees that it would be suitable to have a small hut (kuṭikā) to enter vassa
    - if they build one (within the caravan): enter it there with vacībheda “Idha vassaṃ upemi” 3x
      - Srtd: not “Imasmiṃ vihāre…” because it is not a vihāra
    - if they don’t build one:
      - enter under a stationary cart with a covering, resembling a small hall (sālāsaṅkhepena ṭhitasakaṭassa heṭṭhā) with vacībheda
      - Srtd-ṭ: if no suitable covered place is available: make ālaya (mental intention or determination)
        
        ālaya: mere thought: “Idha vassaṃ vasissāmi”
        
        vacībheda is not suitable without a covered place
        
        V-a: satthe pana vassaṃ upagantuṃ na vaṭṭati
        
        Vmv-ṭ: kuṭikādīnaṃ abhāvena ‘Idha vassaṃ upemī’ti evaṃ vacībhedaṃ katvā upagantuṃ na vaṭṭati
- On the pavāraṇā day:
  - if still travelling: do it there
  - if the destination is reached before the pavāraṇā day: leave the caravan, remain on the destination, and do pavāraṇā with the resident monks
  - getting separated from the sattha without allowed reason: vassaccheda, āpatti, and no pavāraṇā
  - if the caravan stops / breaks / disperses along the way: remain in that location and perform the pavāraṇā with the resident monks
    - not proper to proceed onward without performing the pavāraṇā there
    - Srtd-ṭ: vippakiratīti visuṃ visuṃ gacchati
- Notes:
  - no allowance like for vaja (yena vajo tena gantuṁ) since it naturally moves
  - no vassaccheda, no āpatti, and can do pavāraṇā because:
    - he is afforded the opportunity to perform the pavāraṇā
    - he separates from the merchant caravan precisely when he reaches the specific destination for which he had joined the caravan, in accordance with his original intention
    - -a: vaje satthe nāvāyanti tīsu ṭhānesu natthi vassacchede āpatti, pavāretuñca labhati
    - obhāsa: modern caravans vehicles: not included
      - if stationary: senāsana, ok
      - if not: vassa is broken

Vassūpanāyika in a Nāvā

Background & Anuññā
- A monk wished to travel by ship when the vassūpanāyika was approaching
- Buddha was informed and allowed: Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, nāvāya vassaṃ upagantuṃ
  - no vassaccheda or āpatti; can do pavāraṇā
Protocol for Senāsana & Pavāraṇā
- Senāsana
  - search for one: V-a: nāvāyaṃ vassaṃ upagacchantenāpi kuṭiyaṃyeva upagantabbaṃ
  - if unable: do ālaya
    - pariyesitvā alabhantena ālayo kātabbo
- Pavāraṇā
  - if the ship remains at sea throughout the entire three-month period: do pavāraṇā aboard
  - if the ship reaches the destination:
    - if the monk wishes to continue travelling onward with the ship:
      - not allowed: seem to be vassaccheda, dkṭ, no pavāraṇā
      - he should remain in the first village reached by the ship and do pavāraṇā with local monks
    - notes:
      - as with sattha
      - if intention is just to cross the sea: get down on the first village
      - if having a particular destination: can continue until the destination

Paṭisedha: Vassūpanāyika Locations

Entering vassa in an unsuitable place: dkṭ

includes gāma, raṭṭha, etc
purpose:
- comfort and safety during the residence
- to preserve the faith and goodwill of the lay community; to avoid their displeasure and criticism

Disallowed locations:

Rukkhasusira: on a hollow tree
- monks did so; people criticized (comparing them to demons)
- Na, bhikkhave, rukkhasusire vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
- hollow:
  - if naturally occurring: dkṭ
  - if properly converted into a kuṭi (roof, walls, door): allowed
    - SrtD-ṭ: sakavāṭabaddhameva yojetvā
    - VmV-ṭ: sakavāṭadvāraṃ katvā
    - V-a: mahantassa pana rukkhasusirassa anto padaracchadanaṃ kuṭikaṃ katvā pavisanadvāraṃ yojetvā upagantuṃ vaṭṭati
  - if the upper part of the tree, which contains the hollow, is cut down and a proper dwelling is constructed atop the remaining hollow stump: allowed
    - Vmv-ṭ: rukkhaṃ chinditvāti susiraṭṭhānassa uparibhāgaṃ chinditvā. khāṇumatthaketi susirakhāṇumatthake
    - V-a: Rukkhaṃ chinditvā khāṇukamatthake padaracchadanaṃ kuṭikaṃ katvāpi vaṭṭatiyeva
    - hollow-kuti-1
    - hollow-kuti-2
    - hollow-kuti-3
Rukkhaviṭabhī: on the forks or branches of a tree
- monks did so; people criticized (comparing them to deerhunters)
- Na, bhikkhave, rukkhaviṭabhiyā vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
- if naturally occurring: dkṭ
- if a platform or scaffold (aṭṭaka) is constructed there and a dwelling is built: allowed
  - V-a: mahāviṭape pana aṭṭakaṃ bandhitvā tattha padaracchadanaṃ kuṭikaṃ katvā upagantabbaṃ
Ajjhokāsa: in the open, in an uncovered place
- issues:
  - causes hardship
  - when it rains, one has to flee to find cover
- Na, bhikkhave, ajjhokāse vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
Asenāsanika: without a proper dwelling
- issues: cold and heat
- Na, bhikkhave, asenāsanikena vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
- V-a: yassa pañcannaṃ chadanānaṃ aññatarena channaṃ yojitadvārabandhanaṃ senāsanaṃ natthi, tena na upagantabbaṃ
  - 5 chadanas (tiṇa, paṇṇa, itthakā, silā, sudhā): general statement based on what is normally the case (yebhuyyena); not limited to these 5
    - Srtd-ṭ: idañca yebhuyyena vuttanti veditabbaṃ
    - e.g., under rukkhasusira: padaracchadana
- some: this only prohibits vacībheda vassūpagamana, not ālaya vassūpagamana
  - refutation:
    - rule does not make such a specific distinction
    - Adinnādānasikkhāpada-a:
      - vassūpanāyika only in a dwelling with covering and lockable door
        
        if not available: obtain the labour of others and build it
        
        if not possible: built it oneself
      - without such dwelling: one should not undertake vassūpanāyika
      - note: this applies even to moneyyapaṭipadā
        
        Moneyyapaṭipadā: fulfilled by V. Nālaka in this sāsana
        
        ukkaṭṭha: 7 months
        
        majjhima: 7 years
        
        mudukaṃ: 16 years
    - Srtd-ṭ: only in 3 circumstances did the Buddha allow ālayavassūpanāyika: vaja, sattha, nāvā regardless of whether or not a dwelling was available
      - asenāsanikassa nāvādiṃ vinā aññattha ālayo na vaṭṭatīti amhākaṃ khanti
      - this prohibition does not apply to these 3 cases
Chavakuṭikā: mortuary chamber
- monks did so
- people criticized (“like those who burn corpses”)
- Buddha prohibited: Na, bhikkhave, chavakuṭikāya vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
- chavakuṭikā: a chamber built for corpses, furnished with things such as a ṭaṅkitamañca
  - ṭaṅkitamañca:
    - elevated platform/bed on which corpses are placed
    - made by boring holes through the middle portions of the legs of a long bed and inserting crosspieces of wood (aṭani) through those holes
    - it is the same upside up or upside down
    - placed in cemeteries or shrines
    - alternatively, a stone platform made with a stone slab on top of four stones
- V-a: a proper senāsana (for for chava) in a susāna is allowed
Chatta: under an umbrella (a flat, parasol-like umbrella)
- monks did so
- people criticized (“like cowherds”)
- Buddha prohibited: Na, bhikkhave, chatte vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
- if a chattakuṭikā: allowed
  - chattakuṭikā (parasol hut): 4 posts with a large umbrella over them, the sides are enclosed, and a door is fitted
Cāṭī: in a big pot / vessel
- monks did so
- people criticized (“like heretics”)
- Na, bhikkhave, cāṭiyā vassaṃ upagantabbaṃ. Yo upagaccheyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa
- if a large kapalla: allowed
  - kapalla: a covering/vessel like a clay pot used to construct a hut in the same manner as described in connection with the umbrella (parasol)

Paṭisedha: Adhammakatikā During Vassāvāsa

Background
- Saṅgha at Sāvatthī made a katikā not to ordain anyone during the vassāvāsa
- Visākhā’s grandson saught ordination and was told to wait
- by the end of the residence, he no longer wished to
- Visākhā criticized them, saying no limitation should be put to the practice of Dhamma
- Buddha was informed and prohibited – Na, bhikkhave, evarūpā katikā kātabbā – ‘Na antarāvassaṃ pabbājetabba’nti. Yo kareyya, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
  - reason: some may not be capable of fulfilling the agreement due to having weaker physical strength or being unable to exert themselves sufficiently

Evarūpā Katikā – Type of Prohibited Katikas

Any adhammika-katikā (agreement agains Dhammavinaya)

e.g.,
- Prjk 4-a:
  - yo imamhā āvāsā paṭhamaṃ pakkamissati taṃ mayaṃ arahāti jānissāma (whoever leaves the dwelling first, we shall know him as an arahat)
  - of practicing dhutaṅgas / becoming arahats: imasmiṃ temāsabbhantare sabbeva āraññakā hontu, piṇḍapātikaṅgādiavasesadhutaṅgadharā vā atha vā sabbeva khīṇāsavā hontūti evamādi
  - imaṃ temāsaṃ sabbeheva na uddisitabbaṃ, na paripucchitabbaṃ, na pabbājetabbaṃ, mūgabbataṃ gaṇhitabbaṃ, bahi sīmaṭṭhassāpi saṅghalābho dātabbo’ti evamādikaṃ pana na kātabbameva: not teaching mūla / commentaries; not ordaning others, observing silence (mūgavata), giving to a monk staying outside the sīmā should be given his share of the Saṅgha’s requisites
- Senāsanakkhandhaka-a:
  - anāgatassa na dātabbā: agreeing to not give a salāka to an absent monk
    - normally: an absent monk should not be deprived of the salāka he is entitled to when requisites are distributed; another may receive or his behalf or the salāka set aside for him

Vassūpanāyika Khandhaka – all parts: