English
“Is it true, bhikkhus…pe… “It is true, Blessed One”…pe… having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, there are these five disadvantages for one who chants the Dhamma with a drawn-out, singing voice. One oneself becomes infatuated with that sound, others also become infatuated with that sound, householders complain, for one who desires a melodious voice, concentration is broken, and later generations follow that example – these, bhikkhus, are the five disadvantages for one who chants the Dhamma with a drawn-out, singing voice. Bhikkhus, the Dhamma should not be chanted with a drawn-out, singing voice. Whoever chants it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, the bhikkhus were scrupulous about melodic recitation. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, I allow melodic recitation.” Now at that time, the group-of-six bhikkhus were wearing outer-fleece wool. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “Just like laypeople who indulge in sensual pleasures.” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, outer-fleece wool should not be worn. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” 250. Now at that time, mangoes in the park of King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha were bearing fruit. King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha had given permission: “Whatever "May the venerable ones happily partake of the mangoes." The group of six monks had the young mangoes picked and ate them. Now, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha had need of mangoes. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha ordered his men: "Go, sirs, go to the park and bring mangoes." "Yes, your Majesty," those men, having assented to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, went to the park and said to the park-keeper: "The King, sir, has need of mangoes; give us mangoes." "There are no mangoes, venerable sirs. The monks had the young mangoes picked and ate them." Then those men reported this matter to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha. "The mangoes were well-eaten by the venerable ones, sirs; moreover, moderation has been praised by the Blessed One." People murmured, grumbled, and complained: "How can these Sakyan recluses, not knowing moderation, eat the King's mangoes!" The monks heard those people murmuring, grumbling, and complaining. Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, mangoes are not to be eaten. Whoever eats them, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, there was a community meal for a certain group. Mango slices were put into the soup. The monks, feeling scruples, did not accept them. "Accept them, monks, and eat them. I allow, monks, mango slices." Now at that time, there was a community meal for a certain group. They were not able to prepare mango slices, and at the meal, they offered whole mangoes. The monks, feeling scruples, did not accept them. "Accept them, monks, and eat them. I allow, monks, to eat fruit in five ways that are allowable for recluses: that which has been cooked by fire, that which has been cut by a knife, that which has been cut by a fingernail, that which is seedless, and that which has a seed that has sprouted. the fifth. I permit, monks, to partake of fruit with these five monastic customs.” 251. Now at that time, a certain monk, bitten by a snake, had died. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Surely, monks, that monk did not pervade these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness. If, monks, that monk had pervaded these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness, surely, monks, that monk would not have died, bitten by a snake. Which are the four royal families of snakes? The Virūpakkha royal family of snakes, the Erāpatha royal family of snakes, the Chabyāputta royal family of snakes, the Kaṇhāgotama royal family of snakes. Surely, monks, that monk did not pervade these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness. If, monks, that monk had pervaded these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness, surely, monks, that monk would not have died, bitten by a snake. I permit, monks, to pervade these four royal families of snakes with a mind of loving-kindness, to make self-protection, self-guarding, self-safeguarding. And thus, monks, it should be done— “My loving-kindness to the Virūpakkhas, My loving-kindness to the Erāpathas; My loving-kindness to the Chabyāputtas, And my loving-kindness to the Kaṇhāgotamakas. “My loving-kindness to the footless, My loving-kindness to the two-footed; My loving-kindness to the four-footed, My loving-kindness to the many-footed. “May the footless not harm me, May the two-footed not harm me; May the four-footed not harm me, May the many-footed not harm me. “May all beings, all creatures, And all living things, without exception; May all see what is auspicious, May no evil come to them. “Immeasurable is the Buddha, immeasurable is the Dhamma, Immeasurable is the Saṅgha, but limited are creeping things. “Snake, scorpion, centipede, Spider, lizard, mouse; My protection is made, my safeguarding is made, Let beings come quickly. “So I bow to the Blessed One, I bow to the seven Fully Self-Awakened Ones.” Now at that time, a certain monk, afflicted with discontent, cut off his own genitals. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “That foolish man, monks, cut off something other than what should have been cut. Monks, one’s own genitals should not be cut off. Whoever cuts them off commits an offense of grave fault.” 252. Now at that time, a valuable sandalwood knot of a rich man of Rājagaha had appeared. Then it occurred to the rich man of Rājagaha: “Why don’t I have a bowl carved from this sandalwood knot? The carving will be for my use, and I will give the bowl as a gift.” Then the rich man of Rājagaha, having had a bowl carved from that sandalwood knot, hung it in a net, suspended it from the top of a bamboo pole, and tied it to a series of bamboo poles, and said this: “Whatever ascetic or brahmin is an Arahant and also possesses psychic power, let him take down the given bowl.” Then Pūraṇa Kassapa approached the rich man of Rājagaha, and having approached, he said to the rich man of Rājagaha: “I, householder, am an Arahant and also possess psychic power, give me the bowl.” “If, venerable sir, the venerable one is an Arahant and also possesses psychic power, let him take down the given bowl.” Then Makkhali Gosāla… Ajita Kesakambala… Pakudha Kaccāyana… Sañcaya Belaṭṭhaputta… Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta approached the rich man of Rājagaha, and having approached, they said to the rich man of Rājagaha: “I, householder, am an Arahant and also possess psychic power, give me the bowl.” “If, venerable sir, the venerable one is an Arahant and also possesses psychic power, let him take down the given bowl.” Now at that time, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja, earlier Having dressed in the morning, taking bowl and robe, they entered Rājagaha for alms. Then indeed Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja said this to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Indeed, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna is an Arahant and powerful. Go, friend Moggallāna, bring down this bowl. This bowl is yours." "Indeed, Venerable Bhāradvāja is an Arahant and powerful. Go, friend Bhāradvāja, bring down this bowl. This bowl is yours." Then indeed Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja, rising into the air, took that bowl and circled Rājagaha three times. Now at that time, the householder of Rājagaha, with his children and wife, stood in his own house, with clasped hands, paying homage, saying: "Here, venerable sir, may the noble Bhāradvāja alight in our house." Then indeed Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja alighted in the house of the Rājagaha householder. Then indeed the Rājagaha householder took the bowl from the hand of Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja, filled it with expensive food, and gave it to Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja. Then indeed Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja took that bowl and went to the monastery. Indeed, people heard: "It is said that the noble Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja brought down the bowl of the Rājagaha householder." And those people, with loud noise and great clamor, followed Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja from behind. Indeed, the Blessed One heard the loud noise and great clamor; having heard, he addressed Venerable Ānanda: "What indeed is that, Ānanda, loud noise and great clamor?" "Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja, venerable sir, brought down the bowl of the Rājagaha householder. Indeed, people heard, venerable sir: 'It is said that the noble Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja brought down the bowl of the Rājagaha householder.' And those people, venerable sir, with loud noise and great clamor, followed Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja from behind. That, venerable sir, is that loud noise and great clamor." Then The Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, having assembled the community of bhikkhus, questioned the venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja: "Is it true, Bhāradvāja, that you caused the bowl of the Rajagaha merchant to float down?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "It is unseemly, Bhāradvāja, unsuitable, improper, not like a recluse, not allowable, not to be done. How can you, Bhāradvāja, for the sake of a worthless wooden bowl, show a superhuman feat of psychic power to householders! Just as, Bhāradvāja, a woman, for the sake of a worthless coin, exposes her private parts, even so, Bhāradvāja, by you, for the sake of a worthless wooden bowl, a superhuman feat of psychic power has been shown to householders. This, Bhāradvāja, is not for the conversion of the unconverted... (etc.) having rebuked him... (etc.) having given a discourse on Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: 'Bhikkhus, a superhuman feat of psychic power should not be shown to householders. Whoever shows it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. Break up this wooden bowl, bhikkhus, into fragments, and give it to the bhikkhus for applying eye-salve.