- TheravÄda Collection on Monastic Law TheravÄda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis MahÄvibhaį¹ ga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession PÄcittiyakaį¹įøa
- The subchapter on naked ascetics Acelakavagga
47. The training rule on MahÄnÄma 47. MahÄnÄmasikkhÄpada
Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Tena samayena buddho bhagavÄ sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiį¹ nigrodhÄrÄme. MahÄnÄma the Sakyan had an abundance of tonics. Tena kho pana samayena mahÄnÄmassa sakkassa bhesajjaį¹ ussannaį¹ hoti. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Atha kho mahÄnÄmo sakko yena bhagavÄ tenupasaį¹ kami; upasaį¹ kamitvÄ bhagavantaį¹ abhivÄdetvÄ ekamantaį¹ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaį¹ nisinno kho mahÄnÄmo sakko bhagavantaį¹ etadavocaāāSir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for four months.ā āicchÄmahaį¹, bhante, saį¹ ghaį¹ catumÄsaį¹ bhesajjena pavÄretunāti.
āGood, good, MahÄnÄma. āSÄdhu sÄdhu, mahÄnÄma. Please do so.ā Tena hi tvaį¹, mahÄnÄma, saį¹ ghaį¹ catumÄsaį¹ bhesajjena pavÄrehÄ«āti.
But the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. BhikkhÅ« kukkuccÄyantÄ nÄdhivÄsenti. They then told the Buddha what had happened. ⦠Bhagavato etamatthaį¹ Ärocesuį¹ ā¦peā¦
āMonks, I allow you to accept an invitation to ask for tonics for four months.ā anujÄnÄmi, bhikkhave, catumÄsaį¹ bhesajjappaccayapavÄraį¹aį¹ sÄditunāti.
Yet the monks only asked MahÄnÄma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhÅ« mahÄnÄmaį¹ sakkaį¹ parittaį¹ bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpenti. Tatheva mahÄnÄmassa sakkassa bhesajjaį¹ ussannaį¹ hoti. A second time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Dutiyampi kho mahÄnÄmo sakko yena bhagavÄ tenupasaį¹ kami; upasaį¹ kamitvÄ bhagavantaį¹ abhivÄdetvÄ ekamantaį¹ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaį¹ nisinno kho mahÄnÄmo sakko bhagavantaį¹ etadavocaāāSir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for a further four months.ā āicchÄmahaį¹, bhante, saį¹ ghaį¹ aparampi catumÄsaį¹ bhesajjena pavÄretunāti.
āGood, good, MahÄnÄma. āSÄdhu sÄdhu, mahÄnÄma. Please do so.ā Tena hi tvaį¹, mahÄnÄma, saį¹ ghaį¹ aparampi catumÄsaį¹ bhesajjena pavÄrehÄ«āti.
Again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. BhikkhÅ« kukkuccÄyantÄ nÄdhivÄsenti. They told the Buddha. ⦠Bhagavato etamatthaį¹ Ärocesuį¹ ā¦peā¦
āMonks, I allow you to accept a further invitation.ā anujÄnÄmi, bhikkhave, puna pavÄraį¹ampi sÄditunāti.
Once again the monks only asked MahÄnÄma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhÅ« mahÄnÄmaį¹ sakkaį¹ parittaį¹yeva bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpenti. Tatheva mahÄnÄmassa sakkassa bhesajjaį¹ ussannaį¹ hoti. A third time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Tatiyampi kho mahÄnÄmo sakko yena bhagavÄ tenupasaį¹ kami; upasaį¹ kamitvÄ bhagavantaį¹ abhivÄdetvÄ ekamantaį¹ nisÄ«di. Ekamantaį¹ nisinno kho mahÄnÄmo sakko bhagavantaį¹ etadavocaāāSir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for life.ā āicchÄmahaį¹, bhante, saį¹ ghaį¹ yÄvajÄ«vaį¹ bhesajjena pavÄretunāti.
āGood, good, MahÄnÄma. āSÄdhu sÄdhu, mahÄnÄma. Please do so.ā Tena hi tvaį¹, mahÄnÄma, saį¹ ghaį¹ yÄvajÄ«vaį¹ bhesajjena pavÄrehÄ«āti.
Yet again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. BhikkhÅ« kukkuccÄyantÄ nÄdhivÄsenti. They told the Buddha. ⦠Bhagavato etamatthaį¹ Ärocesuį¹ ā¦peā¦
āMonks, I allow you to accept a permanent invitation.ā anujÄnÄmi, bhikkhave, niccapavÄraį¹ampi sÄditunāti.
At that time the monks from the group of six were shabbily dressed and improper in appearance. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyÄ bhikkhÅ« dunnivatthÄ honti duppÄrutÄ anÄkappasampannÄ. MahÄnÄma criticized them, āVenerables, why are you shabbily dressed and improper in appearance? MahÄnÄmo sakko vattÄ hotiāākissa tumhe, bhante, dunnivatthÄ duppÄrutÄ anÄkappasampannÄ? Shouldnāt one who has gone forth be suitably dressed and proper in appearance?ā Nanu nÄma pabbajitena sunivatthena bhavitabbaį¹ supÄrutena ÄkappasampannenÄāti?
The monks from the group of six developed a grudge against MahÄnÄma. ChabbaggiyÄ bhikkhÅ« mahÄnÄme sakke upanandhiį¹su. Thinking of ways to humiliate him, it occurred to them, Atha kho chabbaggiyÄnaį¹ bhikkhÅ«naį¹ etadahosiāākena nu kho mayaį¹ upÄyena mahÄnÄmaį¹ sakkaį¹ maį¹ kuį¹ kareyyÄmÄāti? Atha kho chabbaggiyÄnaį¹ bhikkhÅ«naį¹ etadahosiāāMahÄnÄma has invited the Sangha to ask for tonics. Letās ask him for ghee.ā āmahÄnÄmena kho, Ävuso, sakkena saį¹ gho bhesajjena pavÄrito. Handa mayaį¹, Ävuso, mahÄnÄmaį¹ sakkaį¹ sappiį¹ viƱƱÄpemÄāti.
They then went to MahÄnÄma and said, āWe need a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>doį¹a measure of ghee.ā Atha kho chabbaggiyÄ bhikkhÅ« yena mahÄnÄmo sakko tenupasaį¹ kamiį¹su; upasaį¹ kamitvÄ mahÄnÄmaį¹ sakkaį¹ etadavocuį¹āādoį¹ena, Ävuso, sappinÄ atthoāti.
āPlease wait until tomorrow. āAjjaį¹ho, bhante, Ägametha. People have gone to the cow-pen to get ghee. ManussÄ vajaį¹ gatÄ sappiį¹ Äharituį¹. You may come and get it in the morning.ā KÄlaį¹ ÄharissathÄāti.
A second time Dutiyampi kho ā¦pe⦠and a third time the monks from the group of six said the same thing, tatiyampi kho chabbaggiyÄ bhikkhÅ« mahÄnÄmaį¹ sakkaį¹ etadavocuį¹āādoį¹ena, Ävuso, sappinÄ atthoāti. and MahÄnÄma replied as before. āAjjaį¹ho, bhante, Ägametha. ManussÄ vajaį¹ gatÄ sappiį¹ Äharituį¹. KÄlaį¹ ÄharissathÄāti. They then said, āWhy do you give an invitation if you donāt wish to give?ā āKiį¹ pana tayÄ, Ävuso, adÄtukÄmena pavÄritena, yaį¹ tvaį¹ pavÄretvÄ na desÄ«āti.
MahÄnÄma complained and criticized them, āHow can they not wait for one day when asked?ā Atha kho mahÄnÄmo sakko ujjhÄyati khiyyati vipÄcetiāākathaƱhi nÄma bhadantÄāāajjaį¹ho, bhante, ÄgamethÄāti vuccamÄnÄ nÄgamessantÄ«āti.
The monks heard the complaints of MahÄnÄma, Assosuį¹ kho bhikkhÅ« mahÄnÄmassa sakkassa ujjhÄyantassa khiyyantassa vipÄcentassa. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhÅ« appicchÄ ā¦pe⦠te ujjhÄyanti khiyyanti vipÄcentiāāHow could the monks from the group of six not wait for one day when asked by MahÄnÄma?ā ⦠ākathaƱhi nÄma chabbaggiyÄ bhikkhÅ« mahÄnÄmena sakkenaāāajjaį¹ho, bhante, ÄgamethÄāti vuccamÄnÄ nÄgamessantÄ«āti ā¦pe⦠āIs it true, monks, that you acted like this?ā āsaccaį¹ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, mahÄnÄmena sakkenaāāajjaį¹ho, bhante, ÄgamethÄāti vuccamÄnÄ nÄgamethÄāti?
āItās true, sir.ā āSaccaį¹, bhagavÄāti.
The Buddha rebuked them ⦠Vigarahi buddho bhagavÄ ā¦pe⦠āFoolish men, how could you act like this? kathaƱhi nÄma tumhe, moghapurisÄ, mahÄnÄmena sakkenaāāajjaį¹ho, bhante, ÄgamethÄāti vuccamÄnÄ nÄgamessatha. This will affect peopleās confidence ā¦ā ⦠Netaį¹, moghapurisÄ, appasannÄnaį¹ vÄ pasÄdÄya ā¦pe⦠āAnd, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evaƱca pana, bhikkhave, imaį¹ sikkhÄpadaį¹ uddiseyyÄthaā
Final ruling
āA monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months. If he accepts one beyond that limit, except if it is a further invitation or a permanent invitation, he commits an offense entailing confession.āā āAgilÄnena bhikkhunÄ catumÄsappaccayapavÄraį¹Ä sÄditabbÄ, aƱƱatra punapavÄraį¹Äya, aƱƱatra niccapavÄraį¹Äya; tato ce uttari sÄdiyeyya, pÄcittiyanāti.
Definitions
- A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months: AgilÄnena bhikkhunÄ catumÄsappaccayapavÄraį¹Ä sÄditabbÄti
- he may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for the sick. gilÄnappaccayapavÄraį¹Ä sÄditabbÄ.
- He may also accept a further invitation: PunapavÄraį¹Äpi sÄditabbÄti
- he should think, āIāll ask when Iām sick.ā yadÄ gilÄno bhavissÄmi tadÄ viƱƱÄpessÄmÄ«ti.
- He may also accept a permanent invitation: NiccapavÄraį¹Äpi sÄditabbÄti
- he should think, āIāll ask when Iām sick.ā yadÄ gilÄno bhavissÄmi tadÄ viƱƱÄpessÄmÄ«ti.
- If he accepts one beyond that limit: Tato ce uttari sÄdiyeyyÄti
- there are invitations that have a limit on the tonics, but no limit on the time period; atthi pavÄraį¹Ä bhesajjapariyantÄ na rattipariyantÄ, there are invitations that have a limit on the time period, but no limit on the tonics; atthi pavÄraį¹Ä rattipariyantÄ na bhesajjapariyantÄ, there are invitations that have a limit on both the tonics and the time period; atthi pavÄraį¹Ä bhesajjapariyantÄ ca rattipariyantÄ ca, there are invitations that have neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period. atthi pavÄraį¹Ä neva bhesajjapariyantÄ na rattipariyantÄ.
- Limit on the tonics: BhesajjapariyantÄ nÄma
- the tonics are restricted: āI invite you to ask for these particular tonics.ā bhesajjÄni pariggahitÄni hontiāāettakehi bhesajjehi pavÄremÄ«āti.
- Limit on the time period: RattipariyantÄ nÄma
- the time period is restricted: āI invite you to ask during this particular period of time.ā rattiyo pariggahitÄyo hontiāāettakÄsu rattÄ«su pavÄremÄ«āti.
- Limit on both the tonics and the time period: BhesajjapariyantÄ ca rattipariyantÄ ca nÄma
- both the tonics and the time period are restricted: āI invite you to ask for these particular tonics during this particular period of time.ā bhesajjÄni ca pariggahitÄni honti rattiyo ca pariggahitÄyo hontiāāettakehi bhesajjehi ettakÄsu rattÄ«su pavÄremÄ«āti.
- Neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period: Neva bhesajjapariyantÄ na rattipariyantÄ nÄma
- neither the tonics nor the time period is restricted. bhesajjÄni ca apariggahitÄni honti rattiyo ca apariggahitÄyo honti.
When there is a limit on the tonics, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhesajjapariyanteāyehi bhesajjehi pavÄrito hoti tÄni bhesajjÄni į¹hapetvÄ aƱƱÄni bhesajjÄni viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa. When there is a limit on the time period, if he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. RattipariyanteāyÄsu rattÄ«su pavÄrito hoti, tÄ rattiyo į¹hapetvÄ aƱƱÄsu rattÄ«su viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa. When there is a limit on both the tonics and on the time period, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for or he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhesajjapariyante ca rattipariyante caāyehi bhesajjehi pavÄrito hoti, tÄni bhesajjÄni į¹hapetvÄ yÄsu rattÄ«su pavÄrito hoti, tÄ rattiyo į¹hapetvÄ aƱƱÄni bhesajjÄni aƱƱÄsu rattÄ«su viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa. When there is neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period, there is no offense. Neva bhesajjapariyante na rattipariyante, anÄpatti.
If he asks for tonics when he has no need for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Na bhesajjena karaį¹Ä«yena bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa. If he asks for a tonic other than the tonic he needs, he commits an offense entailing confession. AƱƱena bhesajjena karaį¹Ä«yena aƱƱaį¹ bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa.
Permutations
If it is beyond the limit, and he perceives it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari tatuttarisaƱƱī bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa. If it is beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari vematiko bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa. If it is beyond the limit, but he does not perceive it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari natatuttarisaƱƱī bhesajjaį¹ viƱƱÄpeti, Äpatti pÄcittiyassa.
If it is not beyond the limit, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Natatuttari tatuttarisaƱƱī, Äpatti dukkaį¹assa. If it is not beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Natatuttari vematiko, Äpatti dukkaį¹assa. If it is not beyond the limit, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense. Natatuttari natatuttarisaƱƱī, anÄpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: AnÄpattiāif he asks for those tonics for which he was invited to ask; yehi bhesajjehi pavÄrito hoti tÄni bhesajjÄni viƱƱÄpeti, if he asks during the time period for which he was invited to ask; yÄsu rattÄ«su pavÄrito hoti tÄsu rattÄ«su viƱƱÄpeti, if he asks by informing, āYou have invited me to ask for these tonics, but I need such-and-such a tonic;ā āimehi tayÄ bhesajjehi pavÄritÄmha, amhÄkaƱca iminÄ ca iminÄ ca bhesajjena atthoāti ÄcikkhitvÄ viƱƱÄpeti, if he asks by informing, āThe time period during which you invited me to ask has passed, but I need tonics;ā āyÄsu tayÄ rattÄ«su pavÄritÄmha tÄyo ca rattiyo vÄ«tivattÄ amhÄkaƱca bhesajjena atthoāti ÄcikkhitvÄ viƱƱÄpeti, if it is from relatives; ƱÄtakÄnaį¹ if it is from those who have given an invitation; pavÄritÄnaį¹, if it is for the benefit of someone else; aƱƱassatthÄya, if it is by means of his own property; attano dhanena, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ÄdikammikassÄti.
The training rule on MahÄnÄma, the seventh, is finished. MahÄnÄmasikkhÄpadaį¹ niį¹į¹hitaį¹ sattamaį¹.
