English
” Then those bhikkhus, having criticized the group of six bhikkhus in many ways, reported this matter to the Blessed One…pe… “Is it true, bhikkhus, that you ask for many bowls even for a slight crack, even for a small chip, even for a mere scratch?” “It is true, Blessed One.” The Buddha, the Blessed One, criticized…pe… “How can you foolish men ask for many bowls even for a slight crack, even for a small chip, even for a mere scratch! This, foolish men, is not for the conversion of the unconverted…pe… And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 612. “Should any bhikkhu, with a bowl that has less than five mendings, cause another new bowl to be bought, it is a Nissaggiya Pācittiya. That bhikkhu’s bowl…” it should be laid down in the assembly of monks. And whatever is the last bowl in that assembly of monks, that should be given to that monk—'This bowl, monk, is to be kept by you until it breaks.' This is the proper course there." 613. "Whoever" means whoever, of whatever kind... "monk" means... this monk is intended in this context. A bowl with less than five bands means a bowl with no bands, or one band, or two bands, or three bands, or four bands. A "no-band" area means a bowl that does not have a two-finger-width rim. A "band" area means a bowl that has a two-finger-width rim. A "new" bowl is said to be so by way of a request. "Causes to be acquired" means requests; there is an offense of wrong-doing in the attempt. Upon acquisition, it becomes subject to relinquishment. It should be laid down in the midst of the Sangha. All should gather, having taken their bowls that have been designated. A poor quality bowl should not be designated—"I will take an expensive bowl." If one designates a poor quality bowl—"I will take an expensive bowl"—there is an offense of wrong-doing. And thus, monks, it should be relinquished. That monk, having approached the Sangha, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having bowed at the feet of the elder monks, having squatted, having raised his joined hands, should be addressed thus: "This bowl of mine, venerable sirs, acquired with a bowl having less than five bands, is subject to relinquishment. I relinquish this to the Sangha." Having relinquished it, the offense should be confessed. A competent and capable monk should receive the confession. A monk endowed with five qualities should be appointed as the bowl-receiver—one who does not go by way of desire, does not go by way of hatred, does not go by way of delusion, does not go by way of fear, and knows what has been received and what has not been received. And thus, monks, he should be appointed. First, the monk should be asked. Having asked, a competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha— 614. "May the Sangha, venerable sirs, listen to me. If it is agreeable to the Sangha, the Sangha should (appoint) so-and-so..." He should appoint a monk as the bowl-distributor. This is the motion. “Let the Sangha hear me, venerable sirs. The Sangha appoints the monk of such-and-such a name as the bowl-distributor. Whoever of the venerable ones approves of the appointment of the monk of such-and-such a name as the bowl-distributor, let him be silent. Whoever does not approve, let him speak. The monk of such-and-such a name has been appointed by the Sangha as the bowl-distributor. The Sangha approves, therefore it is silent, thus I hold this.” 615. By that appointed monk, a bowl should be taken. The elder should be addressed: “Venerable sir, let the elder take a bowl.” If the elder takes it, the elder’s bowl should be taken by the second. And it is not to be left untaken out of compassion for him. Whoever does not take it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. It should not be taken for one who is not a monk. By this same method, bowls should be taken down to the newest monk in the Sangha. And whatever is the last bowl of that assembly of monks, that should be given to that monk: “This bowl, monk, is to be kept by you until it breaks.” By that monk, that bowl should not be placed in an improper place, nor used carelessly, nor discarded. “How might this bowl be lost, or ruined, or broken?” If he places it in an improper place, or uses it carelessly, or discards it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. This is the proper conduct there. This is the consistent practice there. 616. With an unbound bowl, he causes an unbound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With an unbound bowl, he causes a single-bound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With an unbound bowl, he causes a double-bound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With an unbound bowl, he causes a triple-bound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With an unbound bowl, he causes a quadruple-bound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With a single-bound bowl, he causes an unbound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With a single-bound bowl, he causes a single-bound bowl to be acquired: an offense of relinquishment and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a two-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a three-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a four-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a no-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a one-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a two-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a three-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a four-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a no-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a one-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a two-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a three-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a four-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a no-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a one-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a two-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a three-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a four-bound bowl to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a no-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with no-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a no-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with one-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a no-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with two-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a no-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with three-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a no-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with four-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with no-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with one-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with two-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with three-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a one-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with four-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with no-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with one-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with two-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with three-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a two-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with four-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with no-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with one-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with two-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with three-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a three-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with four-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with no-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with one-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with two-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with three-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. With a four-bound bowl, he causes a bowl with four-bound space to be made, it entails forfeiture and expiation. No-bound. If one causes to be acquired an unbound bowl with a bowl of a certain measure, it is an offense entailing forfeiture and expiation. If one causes to be acquired a bowl with one binding, ... a bowl with two bindings, a bowl with three bindings,