English
Therein this is the right time: the time of sickness – this is the right time therein." Thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. 211. Now at that time people, at the time of robe-giving, having prepared a meal with robes, invited the bhikkhus: "We will feed you and clothe you with robes." The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, did not accept: "A group meal has been forbidden by the Blessed One." Few robes arose. The bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One... "I allow, bhikkhus, to eat a group meal at the time of robe-giving. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: "In a group meal, except at the right time, there is an offense of expiation. Therein this is the right time: the time of sickness, the time of robe-giving – this is the right time therein." Thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. 212. Now at that time people invited bhikkhus who were making robes with a meal. The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, did not accept: "A group meal has been forbidden by the Blessed One." They reported this matter to the Blessed One... "I allow, bhikkhus, to eat a group meal at the time of robe-making. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: "In a group meal, except at the right time, there is an offense of expiation. Therein this is the right time: the time of sickness, the time of robe-giving, the time of robe-making – this is the right time therein." Thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. 213. Now at that time bhikkhus with people were traveling on a journey. Then those bhikkhus said to those people: "For a moment..." "Friends, come; we will go for alms." They said thus: "Eat right here, sirs." The bhikkhus, being scrupulous, did not accept, thinking: "Group eating has been forbidden by the Blessed One." They reported this matter to the Blessed One... "I allow, bhikkhus, to eat a group meal at the time of journeying. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 'For group eating, except at the proper time, there is an offense of expiation. Herein is the proper time: Time of sickness, time of robe-giving, time of robe-making, time of journeying— this is the proper time therein.'" And thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. 214. Now at that time, bhikkhus were going by boat with people. Then those bhikkhus said to those people: "For a moment, friends, bring (the boat) to shore; we will go for alms." They said thus: "Eat right here, sirs." The bhikkhus, being scrupulous, did not accept, thinking: "Group eating has been forbidden by the Blessed One." They reported this matter to the Blessed One... "I allow, bhikkhus, to eat a group meal at the time of embarking on a boat. And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: 'For group eating, except at the proper time, there is an offense of expiation. Herein is the proper time: Time of sickness, time of robe-giving, time of robe-making, time of journeying, time of embarking on a boat— this is the proper time therein.'" And thus this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. 215. Now at that time, bhikkhus who had completed the rains retreat in various directions were coming to Rājagaha to see the Blessed One. People, seeing bhikkhus from various regions, invited them with food. The bhikkhus, being scrupulous, did not accept, thinking: "Group eating has been forbidden by the Blessed One." They reported this matter to the Blessed One... "I allow, bhikkhus, to eat a group meal at the great assembly. And thus, b Monks, you should recite this training rule: “In a group meal, except at the right time, there is an offense of expiation. And here is the right time: the time of illness, the time of robe-giving, the time of robe-making, the time of journeying, the time of boarding a boat, the time of a great assembly – this is the right time here.” Thus, this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the monks. 216. Now at that time, a blood relative of King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha had gone forth among the Ājīvakas. Then that Ājīvaka approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha; having approached, he said to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: “I wish, great king, to make a meal for all sects.” “If you, venerable sir, would first feed the community of monks headed by the Buddha.” “I will do so.” Then that Ājīvaka sent a messenger to the monks: “May the monks accept my meal for tomorrow.” The monks, feeling scruples, did not accept: “A group meal has been forbidden by the Blessed One.” Then that Ājīvaka approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and after exchanging courteous and memorable talk, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, that Ājīvaka said to the Blessed One: “Venerable Gotama is a renunciant, and I am also a renunciant; a renunciant is worthy to receive alms from a renunciant. May Venerable Gotama accept my meal for tomorrow together with the community of monks.” The Blessed One accepted by silence. Then that Ājīvaka, understanding the Blessed One’s acceptance, departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the monks: “I allow, monks, to eat a group meal at the time of a renunciant’s meal. And thus, monks, you should recite this training rule: 217. In a group meal, except at the right time, there is an offense of expiation. There is a time. A time of illness, a time of robe-giving, a time of robe-making, a time of journeying, a time of embarking on a boat, a great time, a time of a recluse's meal – this is the time there. 218. A communal meal is when four bhikkhus, invited to one of five kinds of meals, eat. This is called a communal meal. "Except for a time" means excluding the time. A time of illness is when, at the very least, the feet are cracked. "It is a time of illness," so one may eat. A time of robe-giving is, when the kathina is not spread, the last month of the rainy season; when the kathina is spread, five months. "It is a time of robe-giving," so one may eat. A time of robe-making is when robes are being made. "It is a time of robe-making," so one may eat. A time of journeying is, "I will go half a yojana," so one may eat; while going, one may eat; having gone, one may eat. A time of embarking on a boat is, "I will embark on a boat," so one may eat; having embarked, one may eat; having disembarked, one may eat. A great time is when two or three bhikkhus, having gone for alms, sustain themselves, but when a fourth comes, they cannot sustain themselves. "It is a great time," so one may eat. A time of a recluse's meal is when any wanderer who has attained the state of a recluse makes a meal. "It is a time of a recluse's meal," so one may eat. If one accepts, "I will eat except at the proper time," there is an offense of wrong-doing. With each mouthful, with each mouthful, there is an offense of expiation. 219. In a communal meal, perceiving it as a communal meal, except at the proper time, one eats, there is an offense of expiation. In a communal meal, being in doubt, except at the proper time, one eats, there is an offense of expiation. In a communal meal, not perceiving it as a communal meal, except at the proper time, one eats, there is an offense of expiation. In a non-communal meal, perceiving it as a communal meal, there is an offense of wrong-doing. In a non-communal meal, being in doubt, there is an offense of wrong-doing. In a non-communal meal, not perceiving it as a communal meal, there is no offense. 220. No At the time of sharing, two or three eat together. Having gone for alms, having gathered together, they eat. The regular meal, the ticket meal, the fortnightly meal, the Uposatha day meal, the first day of the fortnight meal – excluding these five meals, there is no offense in all other cases. For one who is insane, for the first offender. The training rule on group meals, the second, is finished. 3. The training rule on successive meals. 221. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. And at that time, in Vesālī, a succession of excellent meals was arranged. Then, to a certain poor laborer, it occurred thus: "This will not be a small matter, as these people are making meals so carefully. Why don't I also make a meal?" Then that poor laborer approached the householder who employed him. Having approached him, he said to that householder thus: "I wish, good sir, to make a meal for the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha. Give me wages." That householder also was faithful and confident. Then that householder gave extra wages to that poor laborer. Then that poor laborer approached the Blessed One. Having approached, having saluted the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that poor laborer said to the Blessed One thus: "May the Blessed One, Venerable Sir, consent to a meal for tomorrow, together with the community of bhikkhus." "Great, friend, is the community of bhikkhus. Be aware of that." "Let it be, Venerable Sir, a great community of bhikkhus. Many jujubes have been prepared by me. With jujube-mixed drinks, they will be satisfied." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then that poor laborer, having understood the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him respectfully, and departed. The bhikkhus heard – ‘Indeed, by a poor laborer the Buddha-led Sangha has been invited for tomorrow, and drinks mixed with jujubes will be abundant.’ They, early in the morning, went for alms and ate. People heard, indeed, ‘By a poor laborer, the Buddha-led Sangha has been invited.’ They brought much food and drink to that poor laborer. Then that poor laborer, after that night had passed, having prepared excellent food and drink,