English
"By lotus stalks, friend, and by lotus roots." Then, indeed, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, just as a strong man might extend a flexed arm, or flex an extended arm, even so, having disappeared from Jeta's Grove, he reappeared on the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond. Then, indeed, a certain Nāga saw the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming from afar. Having seen him, he said to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Come, Venerable Sir, the noble Mahāmoggallāna. Welcome, Venerable Sir, to the noble Mahāmoggallāna. What, Venerable Sir, is your need? What shall I give?" "I need, friend, lotus stalks and lotus roots." Then, indeed, that Nāga commanded another Nāga: "Then, friend, give the noble one lotus stalks and lotus roots as much as he desires." Then, indeed, that Nāga Mandāk Having entered this lotus pond, having pulled out lotuses and lotus roots with his trunk, having washed them thoroughly, having tied them into a bundle, he approached the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna— just as a strong man might extend his bent arm, or bend his extended arm, even so— disappeared from the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond and reappeared in Jetavana. That nāga also, disappeared from the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond and reappeared in Jetavana. Then that nāga, having made the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna accept the lotuses and lotus roots, disappeared in Jetavana and reappeared on the bank of the Mandākinī lotus pond. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna offered the lotuses and lotus roots to the Venerable Sāriputta. Then, after the Venerable Sāriputta had eaten the lotuses and lotus roots, his burning bodily illness subsided. Many lotuses and lotus roots remained. Now at that time, monks, in a famine, even with a small amount, would declare themselves satisfied, and would refuse even after reflection, and the entire Saṅgha would be declared satisfied. The monks, feeling scruples, would not accept them. "Accept, monks, consume. I allow, monks, that which grows in the forest, that which grows in a pond, to be consumed by one who has eaten and declared himself satisfied, even if it is not a surplus." Now at that time, much fruit and edibles had appeared in Sāvatthī, but there was no kappiya-kāraka (one who makes things allowable). The monks, feeling scruples, did not consume the fruit. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, fruit that is seedless, fruit with seeds that have sprouted, fruit that has not been made allowable, to be consumed." The allowance regarding things accepted, etc., is finished. 167. The Story of the Prohibition of Surgical Operations 279. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Sāvatthī as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Rājagaha. Journeying by stages, wandering for alms, he arrived at Rājagaha. There, it is said, the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. Now at that time, a certain bhikkhu had a fistula. Ākāsagotta, the physician, was performing surgery. Then the Blessed One, while going on his alms round, approached the dwelling of that bhikkhu. Ākāsagotta, the physician, saw the Blessed One coming from afar. Having seen him, he said to the Blessed One: “Let Venerable Gotama come, and see the anus of this bhikkhu, it is like the mouth of a monitor lizard!” Then the Blessed One thought: “This foolish man is mocking me!” He turned back from that very spot. On account of this incident, on account of this matter, he gathered the community of bhikkhus and questioned the bhikkhus: “Is it true, bhikkhus, that in such and such a dwelling there is a bhikkhu who is ill?” “Yes, Blessed One.” “What is the illness, bhikkhus, of that bhikkhu?” “Venerable sir, that venerable one has a fistula, and Ākāsagotta, the physician, is performing surgery.” The Buddha, the Blessed One, reprimanded him: “This is not suitable, bhikkhus, for that foolish man, it is not appropriate, it is unbecoming, it is not the conduct of a recluse, it is not allowable, it is not to be done. How can that foolish man, bhikkhus, have surgery performed on his private parts? In the private parts, bhikkhus, the skin is delicate, the wound is difficult to treat, the surgery is difficult to manage. This, bhikkhus, is not for the conversion of the unconverted… Having reprimanded him… Having given a discourse, he addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, surgery should not be performed on the private parts. Whoever performs it, there is an offense of grave fault.” Now at that time, the group of six bhikkhus, —because surgery was forbidden by the Blessed One— had enemas performed. Those bhikkhus who were of few desires complained, murmured, and criticized: “How can the group of six bhikkhus have enemas performed?” Then the Blessed And those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Is it true, monks, that the group-of-six monks are having enemas administered?" "It is true, Blessed One." ... Having rebuked them and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: "Monks, within two finger-breadths of the anus, one should not have a surgical operation or an enema administered. Whoever has it administered incurs an offense of grave fault." The discourse on the prohibition of surgical operations is concluded. 168. The discourse on the prohibition of human flesh 280. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Rājagaha as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Bārāṇasī. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Bārāṇasī. There the Blessed One stayed in Bārāṇasī, at Isipatana in the Deer Park. Now at that time in Bārāṇasī, Suppiya the lay follower and Suppiyā the laywoman were both devoted, givers, doers, supporters of the Saṅgha. Then Suppiyā the laywoman went to the monastery, and going from dwelling to dwelling, from cell to cell, she asked the monks: "Who, venerable sirs, is sick? For whom should what be brought?" Now at that time, a certain monk had drunk a purgative. Then that monk said to Suppiyā the laywoman: "Sister, I have drunk a purgative. I need something to cover it." "Very well, venerable sir, it will be brought," she said, and going home, she instructed her attendant: "Go, my dear, find out if there is any available meat." "Yes, madam," that man replied to Suppiyā the laywoman, and searching throughout all Bārāṇasī, he did not find any available meat. Then that man went to Suppiyā the laywoman, and having approached her, he said to Suppiyā the laywoman: "Madam, there is no available meat. There was no slaughter today." Then it occurred to Suppiyā the laywoman: "If that sick monk does not get what he needs to cover his purgative, his illness will either worsen, or he will pass away." "It is not proper for me that having promised, I should not deliver." Taking a knife, she cut flesh from her thigh and gave it to the maidservant: "Here, girl, prepare this flesh and give it to the sick monk in that monastery. And whoever asks about me, report that I am sick." Wrapping her thigh with an outer robe, she entered her private room and lay down on the couch. Then Suppiya the lay follower went home and asked the maidservant: "Where is Suppiya?" "She is lying down in her private room." Then Suppiya the lay follower approached Suppiya the laywoman. Having approached, he said to Suppiya the laywoman: "Why are you lying down?" "I am sick." "What is your ailment?" Then Suppiya the laywoman told Suppiya the lay follower this matter. Then Suppiya the lay follower thought: "Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! How deeply faithful Suppiya is, seeing that she has even sacrificed her own flesh! What else would she not give?" Delighted and elated, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Suppiya the lay follower said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, sir, accept tomorrow's meal from me, together with the community of monks." The Blessed One accepted by remaining silent. Then Suppiya the lay follower, knowing the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him respectfully, and departed. Then Suppiya the lay follower, when that night had passed, had excellent food, both hard and soft, prepared, and had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, sir, the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, dressed, took his bowl and robe, and approached the dwelling of Suppiya the lay follower. Having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared, together with the community of monks. Then Then Suppiya the lay follower approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and stood to one side. To Suppiya the lay follower, standing to one side, the Blessed One said this: "Where is Suppiya?" "She is ill, Blessed One." "Then let her come." "She is not able, Blessed One." "Then bring her, even carrying her." Then Suppiya the lay follower carried Suppiya the lay follower and brought her. For her, at the sight of the Blessed One, that great wound healed up, with clean skin and hair grown. Then Suppiya the lay follower and Suppiya the lay follower (thought): "Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! The great power and great majesty of the Tathāgata! For at the sight of the Blessed One, that great wound has healed up, with clean skin and hair grown!" Delighted and overjoyed, they satisfied and served the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with delicious hard and soft food, with their own hands. When the Blessed One had eaten, and had removed his hand from the bowl, they sat down to one side. Then the Blessed One, having instructed, incited, inspired, and gladdened Suppiya the lay follower and Suppiya the lay follower with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat and departed. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this account, had the community of bhikkhus assembled and questioned the bhikkhus: "Who, bhikkhus, requested meat from Suppiya the lay follower?" When this was said,