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Venerable Mahākassapa, coming from Andhakavinda to Rājagaha for the Uposatha, while crossing a river on the way, had his mind disturbed, and his robes... wet. The bhikkhus said to Venerable Mahākassapa: "Why are your robes wet, friend?" "Here, friend, coming from Andhakavinda to Rājagaha for the Uposatha, crossing a river on the way, I was swept away by the current. Therefore, my robes are wet." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. That boundary, bhikkhus, which has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, for common dwelling, for a single Uposatha, let the Saṅgha agree to that boundary as not parting from the three robes. And thus, bhikkhus, it should be agreed upon. A competent and able bhikkhu should inform the Saṅgha: "May the Saṅgha, Venerables, hear me. That boundary which has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, for common dwelling, for a single Uposatha, if it is suitable for the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha may agree to that boundary as not parting from the three robes. This is the motion. May the Saṅgha, Venerables, hear me. That boundary which has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, for common dwelling, for a single Uposatha, the Saṅgha agrees to that boundary as not parting from the three robes. To whichever venerable one this agreement for not parting from the three robes within this boundary is acceptable, let him be silent. To whom it is not acceptable, let him speak. This boundary is agreed upon by the Saṅgha as not parting from the three robes. It is acceptable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent. Thus I hold this." Now at that time, the bhikkhus, thinking that the Blessed One had permitted the agreement of not parting from the three robes, left their robes inside houses. Those robes were lost, were burned, and were eaten by mice. The bhikkhus became poorly robed, with coarse robes. The bhikkhus said: "Why are you, friends, poorly robed, with coarse robes?" "Here, friends, thinking that the Blessed One had permitted the agreement of not parting from the three robes, we left our robes inside houses. Those robes were lost, were burned, and were eaten by mice. Therefore, we are poorly robed, with coarse robes." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. That boundary, bhikkhus, which has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, for common of common residence, of one Uposatha, may the Sangha approve that boundary for non-separation from the three robes, excluding the village and its environs. And thus, monks, it should be approved. By a competent and able monk, the Sangha should be informed – 144. ‘‘May the Sangha, venerable sirs, hear me. That boundary approved by the Sangha for common residence, for one Uposatha, if it is suitable for the Sangha, may the Sangha approve that boundary for non-separation from the three robes, excluding the village and its environs. This is the motion. ‘‘May the Sangha, venerable sirs, hear me. That boundary approved by the Sangha for common residence, for one Uposatha, the Sangha approves that boundary for non-separation from the three robes, excluding the village and its environs. To which venerable one this approval of the boundary for non-separation from the three robes is agreeable, excluding the village and its environs, he should remain silent; to whom it is not agreeable, he should speak. That boundary is approved by the Sangha for non-separation from the three robes, excluding the village and its environs. It is agreeable to the Sangha, therefore it is silent, I hold it thus.’’ 75. Revocation of a Boundary ‘‘Monks, by one approving a boundary, first a boundary of common residence should be approved, afterwards, non-separation from the three robes should be approved. Monks, by one revoking a boundary, first non-separation from the three robes should be revoked, afterwards, the boundary of common residence should be revoked. And thus, monks, non-separation from the three robes should be revoked. By a competent and able monk, the Sangha should be informed – 145. ‘‘May the Sangha, venerable sirs, hear me. That non-separation from the three robes approved by the Sangha, if it is suitable for the Sangha, may the Sangha revoke that non-separation from the three robes. This is the motion. ‘‘May the Sangha, venerable sirs, hear me. That non-separation from the three robes approved by the Sangha, the Sangha revokes that non-separation from the three robes. To which venerable one it is agreeable The annulment of this non-separation from the three robes. He should be silent. Whoever does not agree, should speak. That non-separation from the three robes has been annulled by the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha agrees, therefore it is silent. Thus I hold this. And thus, monks, a boundary. By a competent and able monk, the Saṅgha should be informed – May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. That boundary which has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, for common residence, for one Uposatha, if it is suitable for the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should annul that boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha. This is the proposal. May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. That boundary which has been agreed upon by the Saṅgha, for common residence, for one Uposatha, the Saṅgha annuls that boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha. Whoever of the venerable ones agrees to the annulment of this boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha, should be silent; whoever does not agree, should speak. That boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha, has been annulled by the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha agrees, therefore it is silent. Thus I hold this. Monks, when a boundary has not been agreed upon, not established, whatever village or town one dwells near, whatever is the village boundary of that village, or the town boundary of that town, that is there the boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha. And if, monks, in a forest without a village, all around for seven leagues, that is there the boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha. All rivers, monks, are without boundary; all oceans are without boundary; all natural lakes are without boundary. In a river, monks, or in an ocean, or in a natural lake, whatever is the area around which a middle-sized man can throw water, that is there the boundary for common residence, for one Uposatha. Now at that time, the group of six monks were merging boundary with boundary. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, for those whose boundary was first agreed upon, their act is lawful, unshakeable, and valid. For those, monks, whose boundary was agreed upon later, their act... unlawful, objectionable, improper. Monks, boundary with boundary should not be joined. Whoever joins, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Now at that time, the group of six monks were overlapping boundary with boundary. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, for whom the boundary was first agreed upon, their act is lawful, unobjectionable, proper. Monks, for whom the boundary was later agreed upon, their act is unlawful, objectionable, improper. Monks, boundary with boundary should not be overlapped. Whoever overlaps, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Monks, I allow that when agreeing upon a boundary, one should agree upon the boundary leaving an intervening space. 77. Breaking of Uposatha, etc. 149. Then it occurred to the monks: "How many Uposathas are there?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, there are these two Uposathas: the fourteenth-day and the fifteenth-day. Monks, these are the two Uposathas. Then it occurred to the monks: "How many Uposatha acts are there?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Monks, there are these four Uposatha acts: an Uposatha act by unrighteousness, divided; an Uposatha act by unrighteousness, united; an Uposatha act by righteousness, divided; an Uposatha act by righteousness, united. Among these, monks, that which is an Uposatha act by unrighteousness, divided, Monks, such an Uposatha act should not be done. Nor has such an Uposatha act been allowed by me. Among these, monks, that which is an Uposatha act by unrighteousness, united, Monks, such an Uposatha act should not be done. Nor has such an Uposatha act been allowed by me. Among these, monks, that which is an Uposatha act by righteousness, divided, Monks, such an Uposatha act should not be done. Nor has such an Uposatha act been allowed by me. Among these, monks, that which is an Uposatha act by righteousness, united, Monks, such an Uposatha... the Uposatha ceremony should be performed, and such an Uposatha ceremony has been permitted by me. Therefore, monks, we shall perform such an Uposatha ceremony, that is, united in Dhamma—thus, monks, should you train yourselves. 78. Abbreviated Recitation of the Pātimokkha, etc. 150. Then it occurred to the monks: "How many recitations of the Pātimokkha are there?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "There are, monks, five recitations of the Pātimokkha: Reciting the introduction, the rest should be recited by ear. This is the first recitation of the Pātimokkha. Reciting the introduction, reciting the four Pārājikas, the rest should be recited by ear. This is the second recitation of the Pātimokkha. Reciting the introduction, reciting the four Pārājikas, reciting the thirteen Saṅghādisesas, the rest should be recited by ear. This is the third recitation of the Pātimokkha. Reciting the introduction, reciting the four Pārājikas, reciting the thirteen Saṅghādisesas, reciting the two Aniyatas, the rest should be recited by ear. This is the fourth recitation of the Pātimokkha. The fifth is in detail. These, monks, are the five recitations of the Pātimokkha." Now at that time, the monks—thinking that the Blessed One had permitted an abbreviated recitation of the Pātimokkha—always recited the Pātimokkha in an abbreviated way. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, the Pātimokkha should not be recited in an abbreviated way.