English
4. The Chapter on Invitation 120. Uncomfortable Living 209. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time, a number of bhikkhus, familiar and intimate, had entered upon the rains retreat in a certain dwelling place in the Kosala country. Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: “By what means might we dwell together harmoniously, without quarreling, comfortably during the rains, and not be troubled by almsfood?” Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: “If we do not address each other nor speak to each other—whoever returns first from the village for alms, he should arrange the seat, set out water for the feet, a footstool, and a foot-towel, wash and set out the refuse-bowl, and set out drinking water and food water; whoever returns later from the village for alms, if there is leftover food, if he wishes, he may eat it, if he does not wish, he should discard it in a place with little grass or immerse it in water without living creatures; he should put away the seat, put away the water for the feet, the footstool, and the foot-towel, wash and put away the refuse-bowl, put away the drinking water and food water, and sweep the refectory; whoever sees a pot of drinking water or a pot of food water or a toilet pot empty, he should set it out; if it is too heavy for him, he should invite a second person with a hand gesture and set it out with a hand signal; but he should not break silence on that account—thus might we dwell together harmoniously, without quarreling, comfortably during the rains, and not be troubled by almsfood.” Then those bhikkhus neither addressed each other nor spoke to each other. Whoever returned first from the village for alms, he arranged the seat, set out water for the feet, a footstool, and a foot-towel, washed and set out the refuse-bowl, and set out drinking water and food water. Whoever returns from the village after the alms round, if there is leftover food, if he wishes, he eats it, if he does not wish, he discards it on ground with little vegetation, or immerses it in water free of living creatures; he puts away the seat, puts away the water for feet, the footstool, the foot-mat, washes and puts away the refuse bowl, puts away the drinking water and the washing water, sweeps the refectory. Whoever sees a water pot, or a washing water pot, or a urinal pot empty and void, he refills it. If it is beyond his strength, beckoning with his hand, he calls a second person, and with a hand signal, has it refilled, but does not on that account break silence. It was customary for monks who had completed the Rains Retreat to go to see the Blessed One. So those monks, having completed the Rains Retreat, after three months, tidied up their lodgings, took their bowls and robes, and set out for Sāvatthī. In due course, they arrived at Sāvatthī, at Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery, where the Blessed One was, and approached him. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. It was customary for the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, to exchange greetings with visiting monks. Then the Blessed One said to those monks – "I hope, monks, you are well, I hope you are getting along, I hope you lived comfortably during the Rains, in harmony, cheerful, without dispute, and were not troubled for alms?" "We are well, Blessed One, we are getting along, Blessed One. And we, venerable sir, lived comfortably during the Rains, in harmony, cheerful, without dispute, and were not troubled for alms." Tathāgatas ask even when they know, they do not ask even when they know. They ask when they know the time is right, they do not ask when they know the time is not right. Tathāgatas ask what is connected with benefit, not what is not connected with benefit. For Tathāgatas, there is a barrier against what is not connected with benefit. In two ways, the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, question the monks – either we shall teach the Dhamma, or for the disciples or I will lay down a training rule.” Then the Blessed One said to those bhikkhus: “How is it, bhikkhus, that you lived in comfort during the rains, united, harmonious, without dispute, and were not troubled for alms?” “Here, venerable sir, we, many bhikkhus, known to each other, sharing meals, entered the rains retreat in a certain dwelling place in the Kosalan country. Then, venerable sir, it occurred to us: ‘By what means, now, might we live in comfort during the rains, united, harmonious, without dispute, and not be troubled for alms?’ Then, venerable sir, it occurred to us: ‘If we were not to speak to each other, nor converse with each other— whoever returns first from the village for alms, he should arrange the seat, set out the water for the feet, the footstool, the foot-mat, wash and set out the refuse bowl, and set out the drinking water and food water; whoever returns last from the village for alms, if there is leftover food, if he wishes, he may eat it, if he does not wish, he should discard it on uncultivated ground or immerse it in water without living creatures; he should put away the seat, put away the water for the feet, the footstool, the foot-mat, wash and put away the refuse bowl, put away the drinking water and food water, and sweep the refectory; whoever sees a water pot, or a food-water pot, or a toilet pot empty and bare, he should set it out; if it is beyond his strength, he should beckon a second bhikkhu with a hand gesture and have it set out with a hand signal; but on that account, he should not break silence— thus, indeed, might we live in comfort during the rains, united, harmonious, without dispute, and not be troubled for alms.’ Then, venerable sir, we did not speak to each other, nor converse with each other. Whoever returned first from the village for alms, he arranged the seat, set out the water for the feet, the footstool, the foot-mat, and He washes the refuse bowl and sets it out, He sets out drinking water and water for use. Whoever returns from the village last from alms-round, If there is leftover food, If he wishes, he eats it. If he does not wish, he discards it in a place with little vegetation, Or pours it into water with no living creatures. He puts away the seat, He puts away the water for the feet, the footstool, the foot-mat, He washes the refuse bowl and puts it away, He puts away the drinking water and water for use, He sweeps the refectory. Whoever sees the drinking water pot, or the water-for-use pot, or the urinal pot empty and void, He fills it. If it is too heavy for him, He signals with his hand, calls a second person, And fills it with the help of hand-signals, But does not on that account break silence. “Thus, Venerable Sir, we lived together, Harmoniously, without dispute, A comfortable rainy season, And were not troubled for alms.” Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Indeed, bhikkhus, these foolish men, Having lived uncomfortably, Claim to have lived comfortably. Indeed, bhikkhus, these foolish men, Having lived like animals, Claim to have lived comfortably. Indeed, bhikkhus, these foolish men, Having lived like sheep, Claim to have lived comfortably. Indeed, bhikkhus, these foolish men, Having lived like rivals, Claim to have lived comfortably. How can these foolish men, bhikkhus, Undertake the vow of silence, The practice of sectarians?” “This, bhikkhus, is not for the conversion of the unconverted…” Having rebuked them, and given a discourse on Dhamma, He addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, the vow of silence, the practice of sectarians, Should not be undertaken. Whoever undertakes it, Commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, bhikkhus, for bhikkhus who have completed the rainy season retreat, To invite criticism on three grounds: What has been seen, What has been heard, Or what has been suspected. This is for you There will be mutual conformity, rising from offenses, and respect for the Vinaya. And thus, monks, should the Pavāraṇā be made. By a competent and capable monk, the Saṅgha should be informed thus: 210. "May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. Today is the Pavāraṇā. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, may the Saṅgha make the Pavāraṇā." By an elder monk, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having squatted, having raised his hands in añjali, he should speak thus: "Friends, I invite the Saṅgha concerning what has been seen, or heard, or suspected. May the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion. Seeing it, I will rectify it. A second time, friends, I invite the Saṅgha concerning what has been seen, or heard, or suspected. May the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion. Seeing it, I will rectify it. A third time, friends, I invite the Saṅgha concerning what has been seen, or heard, or suspected. May the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion. Seeing it, I will rectify it." By a junior monk, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having squatted, having raised his hands in añjali, he should speak thus: "Venerable sirs, I invite the Saṅgha concerning what has been seen, or heard, or suspected. May the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion. Seeing it, I will rectify it. A second time, venerable sirs, the Saṅgha... a third time, venerable sirs, I invite the Saṅgha concerning what has been seen, or heard, or suspected. May the venerable ones speak to me out of compassion. Seeing it, I will rectify it." 211. Now at that time, the group of six monks, while the elder monks were squatting and making the Pavāraṇā, remained seated on their seats. Those monks who were of few wishes... they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can the group of six monks, while the elder monks are squatting and making the Pavāraṇā, remain seated on their seats?" Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One... "Is it true, monks, that the group of six monks, while the elder monks are squatting... while squatting, while inviting,