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"surámerayapane pácittiyaµ."
Not to consume alcohol or other intoxicating substances. If a bhikkhu consumes any substance (drugs, medicaments, toxic products, etc.) likely to modify the ordinary structure of the mind (inebriation, modification of the sense of balance or instability, artificial ecstasy, etc.) or to intoxicate the body, he commits a pácittiya.
Remarks: This rule corresponds to the fifth of the ten precepts.
"aýgulipatodake pácittiyaµ."
Not to tickle. A bhikkhu commits a pácittiya whenever he touches someone with the intention of tickling.
"udake hasadhamme pácittiyaµ."
Not to play in the water. If within a water body (river, stream, lake, pond, etc.) where the water level reaches at least the height of the eyes, a bhikkhu dives, floats, swims, amuses himself or becomes enthusiastic for this water in any manner, he commits a pácittiya.
If he plays by means of a boat, or by throwing or causing to float anything on cooking water, or within any container with water, he commits a dukka†a. Naturally, a sick bhikkhu entering the water for health reasons does not commit any fault. The same thing applies to a bhikkhu who swims only for the purpose of crossing a river that obstructs his way.
"anádariye pácittiyaµ."
Not to lack respect. By lacking respect to a bhikkhu or to the dhamma, a bhikkhu commits a pácittiya.
If a bhikkhu admonishes another bhikkhu for not respecting the vinaya, for actions that are not correct, but the other bhikkhu keeps committing his incorrect actions without paying attention to those remarks, this is a lack of respect towards a bhikkhu.
If a bhikkhu tells another bhikkhu to observe a rule of the vinaya, and the other disappears or hides to keep on breaching this rule, this is a lack of respect towards the dhamma.
If a bhikkhu persists in behaving incorrectly disregarding the admonitions made by those bhikkhus, which back up with the vinaya, he commits a pácittiya. If a bhikkhu persists in behaving incorrectly, disregarding the admonitions made by those bhikkhus, which back up with the suttanta or the abhidhamma, he commits a dukka†a. If a bhikkhu persists in behaving incorrectly, disregarding the admonitions made by those sámašera or lay persons, which back up with the vinaya, the suttanta or the abhidhamma, he commits a dukka†a.
"yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuµ bhiµsápeyya, pácittiyaµ."
Not to frighten a bhikkhu. A bhikkhu commits a pácittiya when he performs any action with the aim of frightening another bhikkhu, by means of a visual or auditive support (for any reason whatsoever).
"yo pana bhikkhu agiláno visibbanápekkho jotiµ samádaheyya vá samádahápeyya vá aññtra tathárúpappaccayá, pácittiyaµ."
Not to light a fire, or have a fire lit. Except than for lighting (candle, oil lamp, etc.), cooking or reheating his food, if a bhikkhu who is not ill lights a fire, or has a fire lit for him, he commits a pácittiya.
Switching on a light or an electrical appliance is not considered lighting a fire. If a bhikkhu lights or revives a fire – voluntarily –, blows on a lit fire to rekindle it, adds anything to the fire (log, paper, etc.), or asks another person to light, maintain or rekindle a fire, he commits the pácittiya 56.
"yo pana bhikkhu orenaddhamásaµ naháyeyya aññatra samayá, pácittiyaµ. tattháyaµ samayo, diyaððho máso seso gimhánanti vassánassa pa†hamo máso iccete aððhateyyamásá ušhasamaso, pari¦áhasamayo, gilánasamaso, kammasamayo, addhánagamanasamayo, vátavu††hisamayo, ayaµ tattha samayo."
Do not wash more than twice a month if the body is not dirty. Except than in exceptional situations, if a bhikkhu washes his body before half a month has elapsed since his previous washing, he commits a pácittiya.
These are the exceptional circumstances that permit a bhikkhu to wash:
Attention: This rule only applies in the "majjhima desa" region of modern northern India, where the Buddha lived. In fact, bhikkhus living outside this region can freely wash, without committing a fault.
"navaµ pana bhikkhunácívaralábhena tiššaµ dubbaššakarašaµ aññataraµ dubbaššakarašaµ ádátabbaµ nílaµ vá kaddamaµ vá ká¦asámaµ vá. anádá ce bhikkhu tiššaµ dubbaššakarašánaµ aññataraµ dubbaššakarašaµ navaµ cívaraµ paribhuñceyya, pácittiyaµ."
Not to utilise a robe without having applied one or more brown or black marks to it. When a bhikkhu obtains a new robe, he must apply a mark (kappabindu) on it at the moment of acquisition – if he is going to wear it –. This mark can be brown or black (the blue ink from a pen or any other dark colour, is equally acceptable). If he does not apply one of these marks and wears the robe, he commits a pácittiya.
There are five types of robes: the lower robe, the upper robe, the double robe, the rains-bath robe and the bandage robe. Each time a bhikkhu obtains one of these robes, he is obliged to apply a mark. All other pieces of cloth are exempted. Finally, he must determine it before being able to wear it.
Remarks: Nowadays, rains-bath robes and bandage robes are no longer used.
The marks can be made on only one corner of the robe, on two, on three or on all four corners of this robe. The mark's size (kappabindu) must be about the same as the pupil of a peacock or the back of a house-bug (insect). This mark must be done in a clearly visible way, in a round, full shape. It is possible, if so chosen, to make one or more marks side by side.
These marks are made only on those pieces of cloth that require determination.
"yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhussa vá bhikkhuniyá vá sikkhamánáya vá sámašerassa vá sámašeriyá vá sámaµ cívaraµ vikappetvá appaccuddhárašaµ paribhuñceyya, pácittiyaµ."
Not to wear a robe shared with a bhikkhu, a bhikkhuní, a sikkhamána, a sámašera or a sámašerí, without the latter having pronounced in turn the formula for sharing this robe. After having done vikappaná of one of his robes with regard to another bhikkhu, a bhikkhuní, a sikkhamána, a sámašera or a sámašerí, a bhikkhu who wears this robe without the beneficiary of the vikappaná having done vikappaná in return, or paccuddháraša (rejection of the robe), he commits a pácittiya.
The vikappaná is a procedure that a bhikkhu performs in order to assign anything to another bhikkhu, a bhikkhuní, a sikkhamána, a sámašera or a sámašerí. This permits totally validating the gift of one or more things to another bhikkhu or any other person, and ensures that it has been done in accordance with the vinaya. In a few cases, this is compulsory. When a bhikkhu wishes to share a robe (in addition to the only one that he is authorised to determine as a worn robe), he can do vikappaná with regard to the chosen person, by pronouncing the appropriate formula. So that the first bhikkhu can wear this robe, the other must do vikappaná in return by pronouncing another formula. Thus, both bhikkhus can share this robe.
There are two types of vikappaná that a bhikkhu can perform either by pronouncing the adequate vikappaná formula on his own, either by having this formula being pronounced by a bhikkhu expert on the vinaya.
If he shares a robe with a bhikkhu who is present:
"imaµ cívaraµ tuyhaµ vikappemi"
If he shares several robes with a bhikkhu who is present:
"imáni cívaráni tuyhaµ vikappemi"
If he shares a robe with a bhikkhu who is away:
"etaµ cívaraµ tuyhaµ vikappemi"
If he shares several robes with a bhikkhu who is away:
"etáni cívaráni tuyhaµ vikappemi"
(We do consider the separation distance remote as soon as it exceeds two cubits and a span, around 120 centimetres). Next, the beneficiary of the vikappaná must in turn do vikappaná so that the bhikkhu can wear this robe. If he wears it and the vikappaná has not been done in return, he commits the pácittiya 59. To do the vikappaná in return, it is convenient to pronounce the following formula:
"mayhaµ santakaµ paribhuñca vá visajjehi vá yathápaccayaµ karohi"
"yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhussa pattaµ vá cívaraµ vá nisídanaµ vá súcigharaµ vá káyabandhanaµ vá apanidheyya vá apanidhápeyya vá antamaso hasápekkhopi, pácittiyaµ."
Not to hide another bhikkhu's belongings. If for having fun, making a joke or out of spite, a bhikkhu hides or causes someone else to hide a determined (used) bowl, a determined (worn) robe, a nissídana, a needle, or a belt – and if this object belongs to another bhikkhu –, he commits a pácittiya.
By hiding other things, such as a bowl's bag, a non-determined robe, or things belonging to some sámašeras or lay people, a bhikkhu commits a dukka†a. By putting things back that were badly put back, or provisionally setting things aparts so as to prevent them from being lost or stolen, a bhikkhu does not commit any offence.
Origin: Texts in Burmese language
Translator (Burmese to French): Monk Dhamma Sámi
Date of translation: 2000
Translator (French to English: Thierry Lambrou
Date of translation (into English): 2002
Update: 2005, June the 19th
