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"yo pana bhikkhu rañeñá khattiyassa muddhábhisittassa anikkhantarájake aniggataratanake pubbe appa†isaµvidito indakhílaµ atikkámeyya, pácittiyaµ."
Not to enter the king's chamber without warning. If, without having previously warned of his arrival, a bhikkhu enters the bedroom in which there is a king of royal blood and a queen, even if the wall is replaced by a screen (curtain), he commits a pácittiya.
"yo pana bhikkhu ratanaµ vá ratanasammataµ vá aññatra ajjhárámá vá ajjávasathá vá uggašheyya vá uggašhepeyya vá, pácittiyaµ. rathanaµ vá pana bhikkhuná ratanasammataµ vá ajjháráme vá ajjhásavathe vá uggahetvá vá uggahápetvá vá nikkhipitabbaµ "yassa bhavissati, so harissatí" ti, ayaµ tattha sámíci."
Not to collect and stow away a precious object outside a monastery or the area where one lives. If a bhikkhu himself collects or makes others collect a valuable object or anything considered as such, in a place situated outside the area there he dwells, he commits a pácittiya.
When picking up a valuable object or anything considered as such within the precinct of a monastery, or any other place where he dwells, a bhikkhu can only do this for the purpose of allowing its owner to find it again easily.
A bhikkhu has the duty to collect or have collected a valuable object lost in the place where he resides. If he neglects this duty, he commits a dukka†a, unless he has not seen the object. A bhikkhu is allowed to collect a lost object of value and put it to a side, only with the intention to allow its owner to come and retrieve it. If a bhikkhu places a valuable object to a side because he has been asked to, or to render consignment service, he commits the pácittiya 84.
Whether or not he takes it with his hand, if a bhikkhu collects or keeps a valuable object outside his monastery, unless it is the property of his own mother, he commits the pácittiya 84. By picking up a useful (but not valuable) object belonging to a relative, in any place, a bhikkhu does not commit a fault.
"yo pana bhikkhu santaµ bhikkhuµ anápucchá vikále gámaµ paviseyya aññatra tathárúpá accáyiká karašíyá, pácittiyaµ."
Not to enter a town or village after noon without having asked for approval from another bhikkhu. Unless it is for something urgent, if without another bhikkhu in the area having given his approval, a bhikkhu enters a village after noon, he commits a pácittiya.
If a bhikkhu risks being exposed to some danger, he does not commit the pácittiya by entering a village after noon has passed and without the approval of another bhikkhu.
If there is no urgency, for a bhikkhu to be able to enter a town or village, he is obliged to ask for the approval from another bhikkhu, in Pali or using any other language.
"vikále gámappavesanaµ ápucchámi."
"I request your approval to enter the village (town) after noon."
If this bhikkhu consents, the other can go to the village or town. If two bhikkhus wish to meet in a village after noon, they can enter it if they have previously asked each other for approval.
"yo pana bhikkhu a††himayaµ vá dantamayaµ vá visášamayaµ vá súcigharaµ kárápeyya, bhedanakaµ pácittiyaµ."
Not to make or have made a needle box in ivory, bone or horn. If a bhikkhu has such a needle box made, he must relinquish it, and he commits a pácittiya.
A bhikkhu must not himself make, or have made by someone else, or accept, a needle box in bone, in ivory or in horn. If so, when he makes it or has it made, he commits a dukka†a. When he obtains this box finished (by himself or from the person from whom the work has been commissioned), he commits the pácittiya 86. This pácittiya is called a "pácittiya requiring destruction", because the acquired object must be destroyed and cast away before the purification of the fault by means of the desaná.
"navaµ pana bhikkhuná mañcaµ vá pí†haµ vá kárayamánena a††haýgulapádakaµ káretabbaµ sugataýgulena aññtra he††himáya aððaniyá, taµ atikkámayato chedanakaµ pácittiyaµ."
Not to make – or have made – or use beds or chairs of a height greater than 65 centimetres. A bhikkhu must not make or have made a bed with legs exceeding the height of eight hand widths (without counting the board). Otherwise, he must cut (saw) the legs to the correct size and he commits a pácittiya.
A bhikkhu must not make or have made a chair or a bed with legs exceeding a height of eight hand widths. In exceeding this height, a bhikkhu commits the pácittiya 87. This pácittiya is called a "pácittiya requiring cutting of the excess", because the excessively high furnishing must be cut to the proper height before purification of the fault by means of desaná.
In measuring the height of the bed or chair, the thickness of the wood is not taken into account. If someone offers a bhikkhu a stool, a chair or a bed in which the legs are too high, this bhikkhu must cut off the excess height of the legs. Alternatively, he can sink the furnishing a little into the soil.
Remarks: This rule corresponds partly to the ninth of the ten precepts.
"yo pana bhikkhu mañcaµ vá pí†haµ vá túlonaddhaµ kárápeyya, uddálanakaµ pácittiyaµ."
Not to use mattresses, cushions or cloths filled with cotton or kapok. If a bhikkhu fills or has someone fill a cloth with kapok (or cotton), to cover a bed or plank or furniture on which he lies or sits, he must take out this kapok, and he commits a pácittiya.
The cotton or kapok contained in the cloth covering the plank or piece of furniture (bed, chair, stool, etc.) must be taken out completely before purifying the fault by means of the desaná. Those bhikkhus who are not ill – not gilána – must not sit or lie on furniture, mattresses or cloth filled with kapok or any other thing to make them comfortable
Remarks: This rule corresponds partly to the ninth of the ten precepts.
"nisídanaµ pana bhikkhuná kárayamánena pamášikaµ káretabbaµ, tatrikaµ pamášaµ, díghaso dve vidatthiyo sugatavidatthiyá, tiriyaµ diyaððhaµ, dasá vidatthi, taµ atikkámayato chedanakaµ pácittiyaµ."
Not to use a sitting cloth of more than 2.20 metres by 1.72 metres and with a flange over 1.15 metres of width. The nissídana that a bhikkhu makes must have a length of four cubits and one span, a width of three cubits and nine fingers, and a fringe, fixed to a border, of two cubits and six fingers. The bhikkhu who obtains a nissídana of a size above the allowed measurements commits the pácittiya 89 and must cut the excess cloth before purification of the fault by means of the desaná.
The nissídana was initially used to protect from eventual involuntary emissions of semen during the night. It also served as a serviette during meals, by turning a border over the legs, for protection against accidental food spillage. Its other function – that for which it is mainly used nowadays – is as a rug to sit on the ground or on anything that could be dirty. For this reason, a bhikkhu should always carry it on his shoulders when going out from his lodging.
Remarks: Nowadays, the nissídana no longer have a flange and their size rarely exceeds 70 or 80 square centimetres.
"kašðuppa†icchádiµ pana bhikkhuná kárayamánena pamášiká káretabbá, tatridaµ pamášaµ, díghaso catasso vidatthiyo sugatadatthiyá, tiriyaµ dve vidatthiyo, taµ atikkámayatochedanakaµ pácittiyaµ."
Not to make or have made a "bandage robe" of more than 4.50 metres by 2.20 metres. A "bandage robe" that a bhikkhu makes for himself must not exceed a length of nine cubits and a width of four cubits and a span. If a bhikkhu obtains a "bandage robe" exceeding these measurements, he must cut the cloth in excess, and he commits a pácittiya.
The "bandage robe" is a cloth used as protection against eruption of substances from all kinds of wounds and abscesses that could dirty the robe. This cloth could be used applied on a sore located only in the area between the navel and the knees. Outside this zone, it is not proper to use a "bandage robe".
Remarks: Nowadays, this type of bandage is no longer used.
"vassikasá†ikaµ pana bhikkhuná kárayamánena pamášiká káretabbá, tatridaµ pamášaµ, díghaso cha vidatthiyo sugatavidatthiyá tiriyaµ aððhayyá, taµ atikkámayatochekaµ pácittiyaµ."
Not to make or have made a rains robe of more than 6.50 metres by 2.70 metres. A rains robe that a bhikkhu makes for himself must not exceed a length of thirteen cubits and a width of five cubits and one span. If a bhikkhu makes himself a rains robe exceeding these measurements, he must cut off the excess cloth and he commits a pácittiya.
A rains robe must be used only in case of rain. It must be determined as such when it is used in rainy weather. If not, the vikappaná or the determination as a simple cloth (parikkháraso¦a) must be done, and the robe can be put to a side. This rains robe must be of about the same colour as the other robes.
Remarks: Nowadays, this type of robe is no longer used.
"yo pana bhikkhu sugatacívarappamášaµ cívaraµ kárápeyya, atirekaµ vá, chedanakaµ pácittiyaµ. tatridaµ sugatassa sugatacívarappamášaµ, díghaso nava vidatthiyo sugatavidatthiyá, tiriyaµ cha vidatthiyo, idaµ sugatassa sugatacívarappamášanti."
Not to make or have made a robe of more than 10 metres by 6.50 metres. A robe that a bhikkhu makes for himself must not have a size equal to or larger than that of the Buddha – that is a length of twenty cubits and a width of thirteen cubits. If a bhikkhu makes a robe exceeding these measurements, he must cut off the excess cloth and he commits a pácittiya. By making a robe, or having one made, of a size exceeding the authorised measurements to offer to another bhikkhu, or by using a robe made by someone else, a bhikkhu commits a dukka†a.
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
