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B01010305cammakkhandhako (clothing sutra)

English

and criticizing. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One... "Is it true, bhikkhus, that the group-of-six bhikkhus had young palm trees cut down and wear palm-leaf sandals? Those young palm trees, being cut, wither?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them... "How can these foolish men, bhikkhus, have young palm trees cut down and wear palm-leaf sandals? Those young palm trees, being cut, wither. People, bhikkhus, perceive life in trees. This, bhikkhus, is not for the conviction of the unconvinced..." Having rebuked them and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, palm-leaf sandals are not to be worn. Whoever wears them commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, the group-of-six bhikkhus, (thinking) "Palm-leaf sandals have been forbidden by the Blessed One," had young bamboo shoots cut down and wore bamboo-leaf sandals. Those young bamboo shoots, being cut, withered. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can these Sakyan recluses have young bamboo shoots cut down and wear bamboo-leaf sandals? Those young bamboo shoots, being cut, wither. The Sakyan recluses harm a one-faculty life!" The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. ...for, monks, people who perceive life in trees... ...Monks, bamboo-leaf sandals are not to be worn. Whoever wears them, there is an offense of wrong-doing. 251. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Bārāṇasī as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Bhaddiya. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Bhaddiya. There the Blessed One stayed in Bhaddiya, in the Jātiya Grove. Now at that time, the monks in Bhaddiya were engaged in various kinds of sandal adornment, making or having made grass sandals, making or having made muñja grass sandals, making or having made pabbaja grass sandals, making or having made hintāla palm sandals, making or having made kamala palm sandals, making or having made wool sandals. They neglected recitation, questioning, higher morality, higher mind, higher wisdom. Those monks who were of few desires... complained, murmured, and criticized: "How can these monks in Bhaddiya be engaged in various kinds of sandal adornment, making or having made grass sandals, making or having made muñja grass sandals, making or having made pabbaja grass sandals, making or having made hintāla palm sandals, making or having made kamala palm sandals, making or having made wool sandals, and neglect recitation, questioning, higher morality, higher mind, higher wisdom?" Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One... "Is it true, monks, that the monks in Bhaddiya are engaged in various kinds of sandal adornment, making or having made grass sandals... and neglect recitation, questioning, higher morality, higher mind, higher wisdom?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them... "How can these foolish men, monks, be engaged in various kinds of sandal adornment, making grass... They will make sandals, or have them made... they will abandon the recitation, the questioning, higher morality, higher mind, higher wisdom. This, monks, is not for the faith of the unfaithful, nor for increasing the faith of the faithful... having censured... having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: "Monks, grass sandals should not be worn, muñja-grass sandals should not be worn, pabbaja-grass sandals should not be worn, palmyra-leaf sandals should not be worn, lotus-leaf sandals should not be worn, blanket sandals should not be worn, gold sandals should not be worn, silver sandals should not be worn, jewel sandals should not be worn, beryl sandals should not be worn, crystal sandals should not be worn, bronze sandals should not be worn, glass sandals should not be worn, tin sandals should not be worn, lead sandals should not be worn, copper sandals should not be worn. Whoever wears them incurs an offense of wrong-doing. And, monks, no sandals that can be transferred should be worn. Whoever wears them incurs an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, three fixed, non-transferable sandals: toilet sandals, urinal sandals, rinsing sandals." 252. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Bhaddiya as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Sāvatthī. Wandering by stages, he arrived at Sāvatthī. There, indeed, the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time, the group of six monks, in the Aciravatī river, as cows were crossing, would grab their horns, grab their ears, grab their necks, grab their tails, would climb on their backs, and with lustful minds, would touch their genitals, and even drown and kill calves. People complained, murmured, and criticized: "How can these Sakyan ascetics grab the horns of cows crossing the river... just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures?" The monks heard those... of people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One… …“Is it true, bhikkhus, that…?” …“It is true, Blessed One,”… …having censured… …having given a discourse on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, one should not take hold of cows by their horns, nor by their ears, nor by their neck, nor by their tail, nor should one mount their back. Whoever mounts, there is an offense of wrong-doing. And, bhikkhus, one should not touch the private parts with a lustful mind. Whoever touches, there is an offense of grave offense. A young cow should not be killed. Whoever kills, should be dealt with according to the Dhamma.” The prohibition of wooden sandals, etc., is finished. 153. Prohibition of vehicles, etc. 253. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus traveled by vehicle, with women as companions and men as companions, and with men as companions and women as companions. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “Just like those who travel on the Ganges ferry!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, one should not travel by vehicle. Whoever travels, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, a certain bhikkhu, traveling from the Kosala country to Savatthi to see the Blessed One, became ill on the way. Then that bhikkhu stepped off the road and sat down at the foot of a certain tree. People, seeing that bhikkhu, said to him: “Where, venerable sir, will the noble one go?” “I, friends, will go to Savatthi to see the Blessed One.” “Come, venerable sir, let us go.” “I, friends, am unable; I am ill.” “Come, venerable sir, get into the vehicle.” “Enough, friends, the vehicle has been prohibited by the Blessed One,” he was scrupulous and did not get into the vehicle. Then that bhikkhu, having gone to Savatthi, reported this matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, a vehicle for the sick.” Then it occurred to the bhikkhus: "Is it drawn by women or drawn by men?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a hand-drawn vehicle drawn by men." Now at that time, a certain monk was very unwell due to the jolting of a vehicle. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a litter or a palanquin." The prohibition of vehicles, etc., is finished. 154. The Prohibition of High and Large Beds/Couches 254. Now at that time, the group of six monks used high and large beds/couches, namely: a long-legged chair, a sofa, a goat-hair rug with long fleece, a rug with various designs, a white woolen rug, a woolen rug with flower designs, a cotton mattress, a rug with figures of lions and tigers, a rug with hair on both sides, a rug with hair on one side, a rug embroidered with gems, a silk rug, a rug made of various kinds of skins, an elephant rug, a horse rug, a chariot rug, a rug made of antelope skins, a rug made of kadali-deer skin, the best of skins, a rug with a canopy, a rug with red cushions at both ends. People, wandering through the monasteries, saw them and grumbled, complained, and criticized: "Just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, high and large beds/couches are not to be used, namely: a long-legged chair, a sofa, a goat-hair rug with long fleece, a rug with various designs, a white woolen rug, a woolen rug with flower designs, a cotton mattress, a rug with figures of lions and tigers, a rug with hair on both sides, a rug with hair on one side, a rug embroidered with gems, a silk rug, a rug made of various kinds of skins, an elephant rug, a horse rug, a chariot rug, a rug made of antelope skins, a rug made of kadali-deer skin, the best of skins, a rug with a canopy, a rug with red cushions at both ends. Whoever uses one, commits an offense of wrong-doing." The prohibition of high and large beds/couches is finished. 155. The Prohibition of All Skins 255. Now at that time, the group of six monks, thinking, "High and large beds/couches have been prohibited by the Blessed One," used large skins: lion skins, tiger skins, leopard skins. These were cut to the size of a bed, cut to the size of a stool, spread inside the bed, spread outside the bed. inside, they are spread on chairs, outside, they are spread on chairs. People wandering for alms, seeing them, complain, murmur, and criticize: “Just like householders, enjoyers of sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, large hides are not to be worn: lion hides, tiger hides, leopard hides. Whoever wears them, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, the group of six monks— because the Blessed One had forbidden large hides— wore cowhides. These were cut to the size of couches, and cut to the size of chairs. Inside, they were spread on couches, outside, they were spread on couches, inside, they were spread on chairs, outside, they were spread on chairs.