English
He also said thus – "Venerable sir, it is not proper for me." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Here now, monks, in a certain dwelling place, on the Uposatha day, many monks are dwelling, foolish and unskilled. They do not know the Uposatha or the Uposatha ceremony, nor the Pātimokkha or the recitation of the Pātimokkha. They request the elder – "Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha." He says thus – "Friends, it is not proper for me." A second time they request the elder – "Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha." He also says thus – "Friends, it is not proper for me." A third time the elder... they request, “Venerable sir, let the elder recite the Pātimokkha.” He too says thus, “It is not suitable for me, friend.” By this very means, even up to the youngest monk, they request, “Venerable sir, let the venerable one recite the Pātimokkha.” He too says thus, “It is not suitable for me, venerable sir.” By those monks, bhikkhus, one monk should be sent immediately from a nearby dwelling: “Go, friend, and having learned the Pātimokkha, either in brief or in detail, come back.” Then it occurred to the monks, “By whom indeed should he be sent?” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, that an elder monk may order a young monk.” Ordered by the elder, the young monks do not go. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, one who is not sick, when ordered by an elder, should not fail to go. Whoever does not go, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” 84. Permission to learn the counting of fortnights, etc. 156. Then the Blessed One, having stayed as long as he wished concerning the matter of accusation, returned again to Rājagaha. Now at that time, people asked the monks as they went for alms, “Venerable sirs, what day of the fortnight is it?” The monks said thus, “Indeed, friends, we do not know.” The people complained, grumbled, and criticized, “These Sakyan recluses do not even know the counting of the fortnight; what good thing then will they know?” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, that you learn the counting of the fortnight.” Then it occurred to the monks, “By whom indeed should the counting of the fortnight be learned?” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, that all of you learn the counting of the fortnight.” 157. Now at that time, people asked the monks as they went for alms, “Venerable sirs, how many monks are there?” The monks said thus, “Indeed, friends, we do not know.” The people complained, grumbled, and criticized... – "These Sakyan recluses do not know each other. How then will they know anything else good?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to count the monks." Then it occurred to the monks: "When should the monks be counted?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to count by name on the Uposatha day, or to take a tally stick." 158. At that time, monks, not knowing it was Uposatha day, went far into the village for alms. They came when the Pātimokkha was being recited, and they came when it had just been recited. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to announce: 'Today is Uposatha.'" Then it occurred to the monks: "By whom should it be announced?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, for the senior monk to announce it at the proper time." At that time, a certain senior monk forgot the proper time. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to announce it also at mealtime." He forgot even at mealtime. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to announce it at whatever time he remembers." 85. Permission for Preparatory Duties 159. At that time, in a certain dwelling, the Uposatha hall was dirty. Visiting monks complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can the resident monks not sweep the Uposatha hall?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to sweep the Uposatha hall." Then it occurred to the monks: "By whom should the Uposatha hall be swept?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, for the senior monk to instruct a new monk." Instructed by the senior monk, the new monks did not sweep. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Not, b Monks, by an elder who has given the command, if one is not sick, one should not fail to sweep. If one does not sweep, there is an offense of wrong-doing. 160. Now at that time, in the Uposatha hall, seats were not arranged. The monks sat on the ground, and their bodies and robes became dusty. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that seats be arranged in the Uposatha hall." Then it occurred to the monks, "By whom, now, should seats be arranged in the Uposatha hall?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that an elder monk should command a new monk." Commanded by the elder, the new monks did not arrange the seats. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, by an elder who has given the command, if one is not sick, one should not fail to arrange the seats. If one does not arrange them, there is an offense of wrong-doing." 161. Now at that time, in the Uposatha hall, there was no lamp. The monks trod on bodies and robes in the darkness. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that a lamp be made in the Uposatha hall." Then it occurred to the monks, "By whom, now, should a lamp be made in the Uposatha hall?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that an elder monk should command a new monk." Commanded by the elder, the new monks did not light the lamp. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, by an elder who has given the command, if one is not sick, one should not fail to light the lamp. If one does not light it, there is an offense of wrong-doing." 162. Now at that time, in a certain dwelling, the resident monks neither provided drinking water nor provided food. The visiting monks complained, grumbled, and criticized, "How can it be that the resident monks neither provide drinking water nor provide food?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that drinking water and food be provided." Then it occurred to the monks Then it occurred (to them): "By whom indeed should drinking water for consumption be provided?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, for an elder monk to instruct a new monk." Instructed by the elder, the new monks did not provide (it). They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, when instructed by an elder, one who is not sick should not fail to provide (it). Whoever does not provide (it), there is an offense of wrong-doing." 86. The Story of Those Going to Another Direction, etc. 163. Now at that time, many monks, foolish and inexperienced, going to another direction, did not ask their teachers and preceptors. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Here, monks, many monks, foolish and inexperienced, going to another direction, do not ask their teachers and preceptors. They, monks, should be asked by the teachers and preceptors: ‘Where will you go? With whom will you go?’ If they, monks, foolish and inexperienced, point to other foolish and inexperienced ones, they should not be permitted by the teachers and preceptors. If they permit them, there is an offense of wrong-doing. And if they, monks, foolish and inexperienced, go without being permitted by the teachers and preceptors, there is an offense of wrong-doing." "Here, monks, in a certain dwelling, many monks dwell, foolish and inexperienced. They do not know the Uposatha or the Uposatha ceremony, or the Pātimokkha or the recitation of the Pātimokkha. There, another monk comes, learned, having come to the tradition, a holder of the Dhamma, a holder of the Vinaya, a holder of the summaries, wise, skilled, intelligent, conscientious, scrupulous, desirous of training. By those monks, monks, that monk should be welcomed, supported, appeased, attended to with powder, clay, tooth-stick, and mouth-water. If they do not welcome, support, appease, attend to him with powder, clay, tooth-stick, and mouth-water, there is an offense of wrong-doing." "Here, monks, in a certain dwelling..." On that Uposatha day, many bhikkhus were dwelling, foolish and ignorant. They do not know the Uposatha, or the Uposatha ceremony, or the Pātimokkha, or the Pātimokkha recitation. By those bhikkhus, O bhikkhus, one bhikkhu should be sent immediately from the surrounding dwelling – ‘Go, friend, and having learned the Pātimokkha, either in brief or in detail, return.’ If they should obtain this, that is good. If they should not obtain this, by those bhikkhus, O bhikkhus, all of them, the dwelling where they know the Uposatha, or the Uposatha ceremony, or the Pātimokkha, or the Pātimokkha recitation, that dwelling should be gone to. If they should not go, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Here, however, O bhikkhus, in a certain dwelling, many bhikkhus are observing the Rains, foolish and ignorant. They do not know the Uposatha, or the Uposatha ceremony, or the Pātimokkha, or the Pātimokkha recitation. By those bhikkhus, O bhikkhus, one bhikkhu should be sent immediately from the surrounding dwelling – ‘Go, friend, and having learned the Pātimokkha, either in brief or in detail, return.’ If they should obtain this, that is good. If they should not obtain this, one bhikkhu should be sent for seven days – ‘Go, friend, and having learned the Pātimokkha, either in brief or in detail, return.’ If they should obtain this, that is good. If they should not obtain this, O bhikkhus, those bhikkhus should not observe the Rains in that dwelling. If they should observe, there is an offense of wrong-doing. 87. The Story of Giving Purity 164. Then indeed the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus –