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and having saluted the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Blessed One: “At present, venerable sir, bhikkhus of various names, of various clans, of various castes, of various families, have gone forth. They corrupt the word of the Buddha with their own dialect. Come, venerable sir, let us put the word of the Buddha into meter.” The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them… “How can you, foolish men, speak thus: ‘Come, venerable sir, let us put the word of the Buddha into meter’? This, foolish men, is not for the appeasement of the unappeased… Having rebuked… Having given a discourse on Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, the word of the Buddha should not be put into meter. Whoever should put it into meter, there is an offense of dukkaṭa. I allow, bhikkhus, to learn the word of the Buddha in one’s own dialect.” 286. Now at that time, the group of six bhikkhus were learning Lokāyata (cosmology/worldly wisdom). People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “Just like householders, enjoyers of sensual pleasures.” The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, would one who is skilled in Lokāyata attain growth, increase, and fullness in this Dhamma and Discipline?” "Is it so?" "No, venerable sir." "Or would one who sees the essence in this Dhamma and Discipline learn sophistry?" "No, venerable sir." "Monks, sophistry should not be learned." "Whoever learns it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, the group of six monks taught sophistry. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "Just like lay people who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, sophistry should not be taught." "Whoever teaches it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." 287. Now at that time, the group of six monks learned animal-talk. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "Just like lay people who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, animal-talk should not be learned." "Whoever learns it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, the group of six monks taught animal-talk. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "Just like lay people who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, animal-talk should not be taught." "Whoever teaches it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." 288. Now at that time, the Blessed One, surrounded by a large assembly, was teaching the Dhamma when he sneezed. The monks made a loud, great noise – "May the Blessed One live, venerable sir! May the Fortunate One live!" By that noise, the Dhamma talk was interrupted. Then the Blessed One addressed the monks – "Monks, when one sneezes, if it is said 'Live!', would one live or die because of that?" "No, venerable sir." "Monks, when one sneezes, 'Live!' should not be said." "Whoever says it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, people said to the monks when they sneezed, "May you live, venerable sirs!" The monks, feeling remorse, did not reply. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "How can these Sakyan ascetics..." when addressed with 'May you live, sirs,' they will not reply." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Householders, monks, are auspicious. I allow, monks, that when addressed by householders with 'May you live, sirs,' one should say 'May you live long.'" 289. At that time, the Blessed One was seated, surrounded by a large assembly, teaching the Dhamma. A certain monk had eaten garlic. He—lest he trouble the monks—sat apart. The Blessed One saw that monk sitting apart. Having seen him, he addressed the monks: "Why, monks, is that monk sitting apart?" "That monk, venerable sir, has eaten garlic. He—lest he trouble the monks—is sitting apart." "Is it, monks, something to be eaten, that having eaten it, one should be excluded from such a Dhamma talk?" "No, venerable sir." "Monks, garlic should not be eaten. Whoever eats it, there is an offense of wrong-doing." At that time, Venerable Sāriputta had a stomach ailment. Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna approached Venerable Sāriputta, and having approached, he said to Venerable Sāriputta: "Previously, friend Sāriputta, by what was your stomach ailment relieved?" "By garlic, friend, for me." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to eat garlic for reasons of illness." 290. At that time, monks were urinating here and there in the monastery. The monastery became defiled. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to urinate in one place." The monastery became foul-smelling... "I allow, monks, a urinal pot." Sitting uncomfortably, they urinate. ... "I allow, monks, a urinal stand." The urinal stands were exposed. Monks were ashamed to urinate. ... "I allow, monks, to enclose with three kinds of walls – a brick wall, a stone wall, a wooden wall." The urinal pot, uncovered, was foul-smelling. ... "I allow, monks, a cover." Now at that time, monks were defecating here and there in the monastery. The monastery became defiled. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to defecate in one place." The monastery was foul-smelling. ... "I allow, monks, a latrine pit." The edge of the latrine pit crumbled. ... "I allow, monks, to build three kinds of embankments – a brick embankment, a stone embankment, a wooden embankment." The latrine pit was low-lying, it was covered by water. ... "I allow, monks, to make it high-lying." The embankment collapsed. ... "I allow, monks, to build three kinds of embankments – a brick embankment, a stone embankment, a wooden embankment." Those climbing up were distressed. ... "I allow, monks, three kinds of steps – brick steps, stone steps, wooden steps." Those climbing up fell down. ... "I allow, monks, a handrail." Those sitting on the edge, defecating, fell down. ... "I allow, monks, to spread a mat and make a hole in the middle to defecate." Sitting uncomfortably, they defecate. ... "I allow, monks, a latrine stand." They urinate outside. ... "I allow, monks, a urinal trough." There was no scraping stick. ... "I allow, monks, a scraping stick." There was no scraping pot. ... "I allow, monks, a scraping pot." The latrine pit, uncovered, was foul-smelling. ... "I allow, monks, a cover." Defecating in the open, by cold and by heat... They become weary... "I allow, monks, a latrine." The latrine has no door... "I allow, monks, a door, a door frame, a threshold, a lintel, a bolt-bar, a monkey-head fastener, a pin, a latch, a keyhole, a pulling-hole, a pulling-rope." Grass dust falls in the latrine... "I allow, monks, to plaster and whitewash it – with white color, black color, red ochre decoration, garland work, creeper work, crocodile-tooth pattern, five-stripe pattern, a robe-pole, a robe-rope." 292. At that time, a certain monk, old and weak, fell down while rising after defecating. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a hand-rail." The latrine is not enclosed... "I allow, monks, to enclose it with three kinds of walls – a brick wall, a stone wall, a wooden wall." There is no antechamber... ... "I allow, monks, a door, a door frame, a threshold, a lintel, a bolt-bar, a monkey-head fastener, a pin, a latch, a keyhole, a pulling-hole, a pulling-rope." Grass dust falls in the antechamber... "I allow, monks, to plaster and whitewash it – with white color, black color, red ochre decoration, garland work, creeper work, crocodile-tooth pattern, five-stripe pattern, a robe-pole, a robe-rope." a five-pronged tooth-cleaner." The monastery courtyard was muddy… "I allow, monks, to spread gravel." They could not finish… "I allow, monks, to lay down stone slabs." Water stood still… "I allow, monks, a water drain." There was no rinsing pot… "I allow, monks, a rinsing pot." There was no rinsing bowl… "I allow, monks, a rinsing bowl." They rinsed uncomfortably seated… "I allow, monks, a rinsing platform." The rinsing platform was exposed, monks were ashamed to rinse… "I allow, monks, to enclose with three walls – a brick wall, a stone wall, a wooden wall." The rinsing pot was uncovered, it was covered with grass dust and dirt… "I allow, monks, a lid." 293. At that time, the group of six monks engaged in such improper conduct: They planted flower beds, or had them planted; they watered them, or had them watered; they picked flowers, or had them picked; they strung garlands, or had them strung; they made single-stemmed garlands, or had them made; they made double-stemmed garlands, or had them made; they made bouquets, or had them made; they made loose flowers, or had them made; they made wreaths, or had them made; they made head-garlands, or had them made; they made chest-garlands, or had them made. They carried single-stemmed garlands to women of good families, daughters of good families, maidens of good families, daughters-in-law of good families, female servants of good families, or had them carried; they carried double-stemmed garlands, or had them carried; they carried bouquets, or had them carried; they carried loose flowers, or had them carried; they carried wreaths, or had them carried; they carried head-garlands, or had them carried; they carried chest-garlands, or had them carried. They ate from the same dish with women of good families, daughters of good families, maidens of good families, daughters-in-law of good families, female servants of good families; They drink from one plate, they sit on one seat, they lie on one couch, they lie on one mat, they lie under one cover, they lie on one mat and under one cover, they eat at the wrong time, they drink intoxicants, they wear garlands, perfumes, and ointments, they dance, they sing, they play instruments, they perform shows; they dance while a woman dances, they sing while a woman dances,