四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.31

2.31

"Venerable sirs, these two aniyata dharmas come forth in the half-monthly recitation of the Prātimokṣa Sūtra." This first indicates the protocol of the recitation, perhaps to cause them to gather their attention and listen; or, discussing it generally, it has the meaning of preventing wrongdoing, and thus they are equally called "precepts." These two dharmas have four aspects that lack fixed standards, hence they are called aniyata (undetermined). The four aspects are: 1. Undetermined offense: meaning one may commit a pārājika, commit a saṃghāvaśeṣa, or commit a prāyaścittika, or commit all three, or again commit two; because the quantity varies. 2. Undetermined accusation: since the offense is undetermined, an accusation made by a trustworthy [woman] according to the facts is likewise undetermined. 3. Undetermined confession: since the accusation varies in quantity, how could a confession listing the offenses follow a single formula? He may confess to having committed no offense. 4. Undetermined penalty: if he confesses to a pārājika, he is expelled and penalized; if he confesses to a saṃghāvaśeṣa, he is penalized with parivāsa, etc.; and even if he does not confess, following the offense to the place where it is penalized, it is called an undetermined penalty. These undetermined offenses arise in secluded places or open, sheltered places; hence they are called "the two aniyata dharmas." Furthermore, the Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states: "Why is it called undetermined? A trustworthy woman does not know whether an offense was committed or not, where it arose or not, and does not know the name of the offense; she only says: 'I saw a woman coming and going, sitting and standing in this place, and I also saw a bhikṣu coming and going, sitting and standing; I did not see them engaging in sexual intercourse, taking human life, touching a woman, killing grass, eating past noon, or drinking alcohol.' Because the preceding facts are not definitive like this, it is called undetermined." Question: "The accusation by a trustworthy [woman] generally allows for two, three, five, or seven offenses. Why are they placed below the saṃghāvaśeṣas and above the prāyaścittikas?" Answer: "One explanation is that above they encompass the precepts [of pārājika and saṃghāvaśeṣa], and below they include decorum [of prāyaścittika]. Another explanation is that they are meant to strictly prevent the offenses of pārājika and saṃghāvaśeṣa; sitting alone in secluded or open places can lead to committing pārājika or saṃghāvaśeṣa, which is why, in order to guard these two precepts, they are placed here; it is not merely to include prāyaścittika, though below they also include prāyaścittika." Question: "Why do the bhikṣuṇīs not have these two?" Answer: "Because they have companions. Even if they have no companions, it is rare and not counted. Moreover, women are weak and their speech does not express their minds clearly; how could they deal with the matter against a man? Hence, showing that they have none."