四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.47

2.47

The precept against having a bhikṣuṇī wash an old robe, the fifth: 1. The intention behind the enactment: The superior employing the inferior accords with order, but frequent [employment causes] the inferior to grow slack in reverence toward the superior, and restraint is difficult. Often they do not consider whether [the bhikṣuṇī] has the means, and visitors bring distress. Abandoning their spiritual practice causes harm that is not light, and affectionate defilement easily arises. The trace of it invites worldly derision and brings about slander; purity and guilt become difficult to distinguish, and neither can extricate themselves, leading to manifold faults. Therefore the Sage enacted the precept. Question: Why are washing, dyeing, and beating regulated together? Answer: First, the place where the bhikṣuṇī is employed is the same; second, both arise from an old robe; third, one single robe may sequentially cause the offense: when soiled, it must be washed; when it loses color, it must be dyed; and stretching it out results in beating. 2. Explaining the terms is evident. 3. Specific conditions: General conditions are as above; specific conditions are six: 1. she is a bhikṣuṇī; 2. she is unrelated; 3. it is an old robe; 4. he has her wash, dye, or beat it (the *Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā* states that if he has her write a letter, it is a duṣkṛta; the *Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya* has four permutations: giving it personally, having another receive it, etc., whether mutually or both washing, all constitute offenses); 5. lack of specific circumstances (thus the Vinaya provides exceptions: if one is ill and has her wash, dye, or beat it, or if one borrows another's robe and has her wash, dye, or beat it, it is not an offense; this means in the absence of such circumstances); 6. when the washing, dyeing, or beating is completed, he commits the offense. 4. Deficient conditions can be understood by analogy. Below is the precept text proper. This precept was enacted because Udāyin had the bhikṣuṇī Sthūlanandā wash his antarvāsaka robe, and therefore the Buddha enacted this precept.