English
A certain wicked monk was a familiar of a certain wicked lay follower. Then that wicked monk, having dressed in the morning, and taking his bowl and robe, went to the dwelling of that wicked lay follower. Having gone there, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then that wicked lay follower went to that wicked monk, and having approached and saluted that wicked monk, sat down to one side. Now at that time, that wicked lay follower had a calf, young, beautiful, pleasing to the eye, charming, and spotted, just like a leopard cub. Then that wicked monk carefully gazed at that calf. Then that wicked lay follower said to that wicked monk: “Why, Venerable Sir, does the venerable one carefully gaze at this calf?” “I have a need, friend, for the hide of this calf.” Then that wicked lay follower killed that calf, skinned it, and gave the hide to that wicked monk. Then that wicked monk covered that hide with his outer robe and departed. Then that cow, longing for her calf, followed that wicked monk from behind. The monks said: “Why, friend, does this cow this cow follows me from behind? I too, friend, do not know why this cow follows me from behind. Now at that time, the robe of that wicked monk was stained with blood. The monks said: What happened to your robe, friend? Then that wicked monk reported the matter to the monks. Did you, friend, incite to the taking of life? Yes, friend. Those monks who were of few desires complained, murmured, and criticized: How can a monk incite to the taking of life? Has not the taking of life been condemned by the Blessed One in many ways? Is not abstinence from taking life praised? Then those monks reported the matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on account of this cause, on account of this incident, convened the assembly of monks and questioned that wicked monk: Is it true, monk, that you incited to the taking of life? It is true, Blessed One… How can you, foolish man, incite to the taking of life? Have I not, foolish man, condemned the taking of life in many ways? Is not abstinence from taking life praised? This, foolish man, is not for the conversion of the unconverted… Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: Monks, one should not incite to the taking of life. Whoever incites, should be dealt with according to the Dhamma. Monks, one should not wear cowhide. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. And, monks, one should not wear any hide. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. The prohibition of all hides is finished. 156. Lay-made things allowed, etc. 256. Now at that time, the beds and chairs of people were covered with hides, bound with hides. The monks, feeling scruples, did not sit on them. They reported the matter to the Blessed One. I allow, monks, to sit on lay-made things, but not to sit on to burn. At that time, monasteries were plastered with leather straps. The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, would not sit down. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, bhikkhus, to sit down on the binding only." At that time, the group of six bhikkhus entered the village with sandals on. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "Just like householders who enjoy sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, the village should not be entered with sandals on. Whoever enters, there is an offense of wrong-doing." At that time, a certain bhikkhu was sick, and could not enter the village without sandals. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, bhikkhus, for a sick bhikkhu to enter the village with sandals on." The allowance for householder-like things, etc., is finished. 157. The Story of Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa 257. (To be compared with Udāna 46, Soka Sutta) At that time, the Venerable Mahākaccāna was dwelling in Avanti, at Kuraraghara, on Papataka Mountain. At that time, the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa was a supporter of the Venerable Mahākaccāna. Then the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna. Having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Mahākaccāna, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa said this to the Venerable Mahākaccāna: "As I understand the Dhamma taught by the Venerable Mahākaccāna, it is not easy for one living in a household to lead the holy life completely perfect, completely pure, polished like a conch shell. I wish, Venerable Sir, to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness. Let the Venerable Mahākaccāna ordain me, Venerable Sir." (to the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa, he said) “It is difficult, Soṇa, to live the holy life of one couch and one meal for a lifetime. Come, Soṇa, as a householder there, practice the Buddha’s teaching, the holy life of one couch and one meal at the right time.” Then the intention to go forth that lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa had, subsided. A second time, the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa… …and a third time, the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa approached the venerable Mahākaccāna, and having approached and paid homage to the venerable Mahākaccāna, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa said to the venerable Mahākaccāna: “As I understand the Dhamma taught by the venerable Mahākaccāna, it is not easy for one living in a home to live the holy life that is entirely complete, entirely pure, polished like a conch shell. I wish, venerable sir, to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home to homelessness. Let the venerable Mahākaccāna ordain me, venerable sir.” Then the venerable Mahākaccāna ordained the lay follower Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa. Now at that time, Avantidakkhiṇāpatha had few bhikkhus. Then the venerable Mahākaccāna, after the passing of three years, with difficulty and hardship, gathered a community of ten bhikkhus from here and there, and gave higher ordination to the venerable Soṇa. The story of Soṇa Kuṭikaṇṇa is finished. 158. Mahākaccāna’s Fivefold Observation Then, after the venerable Soṇa had spent the rains, being in seclusion, this thought arose in his mind: “I have only heard of that Blessed One as being such and such, but I have not seen him face to face. I would go to see that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, if my preceptor would permit me.” Then the venerable Soṇa, in the evening who, having risen from seclusion, approached the venerable Mahākaccāna. Having approached, and having saluted the venerable Mahākaccāna, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the venerable Soṇa said this to the venerable Mahākaccāna: "Here, venerable sir, while I was in seclusion, alone, this thought arose in my mind: 'I have only heard about that Blessed One, that he is such and such, but I have not seen him face to face. I would go to see that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One, if my preceptor would permit me.' I would go, venerable sir, to see that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One, if my preceptor permits me." "Excellent, excellent, Soṇa. Go, Soṇa, to see that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One. You will see, Soṇa, that Blessed One, who is pleasing, inspiring, with tranquil faculties, with tranquil mind, who has attained the highest taming and tranquility, tamed, guarded, with restrained faculties, a great being. Therefore, Soṇa, in my name, bow your head at the feet of the Blessed One, saying: 'My preceptor, venerable sir, the venerable Mahākaccāna, bows his head at the feet of the Blessed One.' And say this: 'The Avanti-Dakkināpatha, venerable sir, has few bhikkhus. After three years, with difficulty and hardship, gathering a bhikkhu-sangha of ten from here and there, I obtained ordination. Perhaps the Blessed One would permit ordination with a smaller group in Avanti-Dakkināpatha. In Avanti-Dakkināpatha, venerable sir, the ground is black and rough, covered with goat-thorns. Perhaps the Blessed One would permit foot-coverings with soles and straps in Avanti-Dakkināpatha. In Avanti-Dakkināpatha, venerable sir, people consider bathing important, they are purifiers by water. Perhaps the Blessed One would permit constant bathing in Avanti-Dakkināpatha. In Avanti-Dakkināpatha, venerable sir, animal skins are used as coverings, lambskin, goatskin, deerskin. Just as, venerable sir, in the middle In these countries, there are cats and mongooses, and other creatures. Even so, Venerable Sir, in Avanti-Dakṣiṇāpatha, there are animal skins for coverings: lambskins, goatskins, deerskins. Perhaps the Blessed One would allow animal skins for coverings in Avanti-Dakṣiṇāpatha: lambskins, goatskins, deerskins. At present, Venerable Sir, people give robes to monks who have gone beyond the boundary, saying: 'We give this robe to so-and-so.' They come and report: 'Friend, people have given you a robe.' They are scrupulous and do not accept it, thinking: 'Lest it become subject to forfeiture for us.' Perhaps the Blessed One would explain a way concerning robes. "So be it, Venerable Sir," said the Venerable Soṇa, agreeing with the Venerable Mahākaccāna. He rose from his seat, saluted the Venerable Mahākaccāna, circumambulated him respectfully, arranged his lodging, and taking his bowl and robe, he set out for Sāvatthī. In due course, he arrived at Sāvatthī, at Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery, and approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Ānanda, prepare a lodging for this visiting monk." Then the Venerable Ānanda, thinking: "The Blessed One commands me: 'Ānanda, prepare a lodging for this visiting monk.' The Blessed One wishes to dwell in the same dwelling with that monk, the Blessed One wishes to dwell in the same dwelling with the Venerable Soṇa," prepared a lodging for the Venerable Soṇa in the dwelling where the Blessed One was staying.