English
At that time, monks stepped on the kathina cloth with unwashed feet. The kathina cloth was spoiled. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, one should not step on the kathina cloth with unwashed feet. Whoever steps on it incurs an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, monks stepped on the kathina cloth with wet feet. The kathina cloth was spoiled. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, one should not step on the kathina cloth with wet feet. Whoever steps on it incurs an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, monks stepped on the kathina cloth with sandals on. The kathina cloth was spoiled. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, one should not step on the kathina cloth with sandals on. Whoever steps on it incurs an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, monks, while sewing robes, held them with their fingers. Their fingers became painful. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a holder.” 257. At that time, the group of six monks kept various kinds of holders, made of gold, made of silver. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – “Just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, various kinds of holders should not be kept. Whoever keeps them incurs an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, those made of bone… …those made of conch-shell.” At that time, needles, knives, and holders were lost. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a needle-case.” A needle-case They were entangled in the branches. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a receiving bag." There was no shoulder-strap. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a shoulder-strap, a binding cord." Now at that time, monks sewing robes in the open air suffered from cold and heat. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a kathina hall, a kathina pavilion." The kathina hall was low-grounded, it was covered by water. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to make it high-grounded." The foundation collapsed. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to build three kinds of foundations – a brick foundation, a stone foundation, a wooden foundation." As they ascended, they were distressed. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, three kinds of stairs – brick stairs, stone stairs, wooden stairs." As they ascended, they fell down. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a handrail." Grass dust fell from the kathina hall. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to plaster and whitewash it – white color, black color, red ochre work, garland work, creeper work, makara-tooth ornament, five-fold pattern, robe-pole, robe-rope." Now at that time, monks, having sewn the robe, left the kathina there, and it was eaten by mice and termites. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to gather the kathina." The kathina was broken up. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to gather the kathina with a cow-hide bag." The kathina became untwisted. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a binding rope." Now at that time, monks, having hung the kathina on walls or pillars, departed. Having fallen, the kathina broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a wall-peg or a snake-tooth peg..." or let it stick to him.” 258. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Rājagaha as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Vesālī. Now at that time, the bhikkhus were carrying needles, knives, and medicines in their bowls. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, a medicine-bag.” It was not shoulder-strapped… and so on… “I allow, bhikkhus, a shoulder-strapped string for tying.” Now at that time, a certain bhikkhu tied his sandals with his waist-band and entered the village for alms. A certain lay follower, bowing to that bhikkhu, struck his sandals with his head. That bhikkhu was embarrassed. Then that bhikkhu went to the monastery and reported this matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, a sandal-bag.” It was not shoulder-strapped… and so on… “I allow, bhikkhus, a shoulder-strapped string for tying.” Now at that time, the water on the road between villages was not allowable. There was no water-strainer. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, a water-strainer.” A piece of cloth was not enough… and so on… “I allow, bhikkhus, a ladle-strainer.” A piece of cloth was not enough… and so on… “I allow, bhikkhus, a fan.” 259. Now at that time, two bhikkhus were traveling on a journey in the Kosala country. One bhikkhu behaved improperly. The second bhikkhu said to that bhikkhu, “Friend, do not do such a thing. This is not proper.” He became angry with him. Then that bhikkhu, afflicted by thirst, said to the angry bhikkhu, “Give me, friend, a water-strainer, I will drink water.” The angry bhikkhu did not give it. That bhikkhu, afflicted by thirst, passed away. Then that bhikkhu went to the monastery and reported this matter to the bhikkhus. reported to him. "Why, friend, when asked for a water-strainer, did you not give it?" "Yes, friend." Those monks who were of few desires... they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can a monk, when asked for a water-strainer, not give it!" Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this ground, convened the assembly of monks and questioned that monk: "Is it true, monk, that when asked for a water-strainer, you did not give it?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "This is unsuitable, foolish man, unbecoming, improper, not characteristic of a recluse, unallowable, not to be done. How can you, foolish man, when asked for a water-strainer, not give it? This, foolish man, is not for the conversion of the unconverted... Having rebuked him... Having given a discourse on the Dhamma, he addressed the monks: "Monks, a monk who is traveling on a journey, when asked for a water-strainer, should not refuse to give it. Whoever does not give it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. And, monks, one should not undertake a journey without a water-strainer. Whoever undertakes it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. If there is no water-strainer or Dhamma-implement, even the corner of a robe should be designated: 'I will strain with this and drink.'" Then the Blessed One, traveling by stages, arrived at Vesālī. There the Blessed One dwelt in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Now at that time, the monks were doing new construction. The water-strainer was not sufficient. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a staff-strainer." The staff-strainer was not sufficient. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a cover." Now at that time, the monks were troubled by mosquitoes. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a mosquito-hut." so it is. 260. At that time, in Vesālī, there was a continuous supply of excellent food. The bhikkhus, having eaten excellent food, became heavy-bodied and very ill. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca went to Vesālī for some purpose. Jīvaka Komārabhacca saw the bhikkhus heavy-bodied and very ill. Having seen them, he approached the Bhagavā, and having approached and saluted the Bhagavā, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Jīvaka Komārabhacca said to the Bhagavā: "At present, Bhante, the bhikkhus are heavy-bodied and very ill. It would be good, Bhante, if the Bhagavā would allow the bhikkhus a walking path and a hot-air bath. Thus the bhikkhus will be less ill." Then the Bhagavā instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened Jīvaka Komārabhacca with a Dhamma talk. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Bhagavā with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat, saluted the Bhagavā, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Bhagavā, on this occasion, in this connection, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: "I allow, bhikkhus, a walking path and a hot-air bath." At that time, the bhikkhus walked on an uneven walking path. Their feet were sore. They reported this matter to the Bhagavā. "I allow, bhikkhus, to make it even." The walking path had a low foundation. It was covered with water... "I allow, bhikkhus, to make it with a high foundation." The mound collapsed... "I allow, bhikkhus, to build three kinds of mounds: a brick mound, a stone mound, a wooden mound." Those ascending were troubled... "I allow, bhikkhus, three kinds of stairs: brick stairs, stone stairs, wooden stairs." Those ascending fell... "I allow, bhikkhus, a handrail." At that time Because monks, walking on the walking path, fall down. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a railing for the walking path." At that time, monks, walking in the open air, were distressed by cold and heat. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a walking hall." In the walking hall, grass dust falls... ... "I allow, monks, to plaster and whitewash it – white color, black color, red ochre work, garland work, creeper work, makara-tooth design, five-striped design, a robe pole, a robe rope." The hot-bath house was low-grounded, it was covered with water... ... "I allow, monks, to make it high-grounded." The piles fall down... ... "I allow, monks, to build three kinds of piles – a brick pile, a stone pile, a wooden pile." Those ascending are distressed... ... "I allow, monks, three kinds of stairs – brick stairs, stone stairs, wooden stairs." Those ascending fall down... ... "I allow, monks, a handrail." The hot-bath house had no door... ... "I allow, monks, a door, a door frame,