English
When this was said, the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks did not respond. A second time, Vaḍḍha the Licchavī said to the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks: “I pay homage, sirs.” A second time, the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks did not respond. A third time, Vaḍḍha the Licchavī said to the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks: “I pay homage, sirs.” A third time, the Mettiyabhūmajaka monks did not respond. “What wrong have I done to you, sirs? Why do you not respond to me?” “Because, friend Vaḍḍha, you look on while we are being harassed by Dabba the Mallaputta.” “What can I do, sirs?” “If you wish, friend Vaḍḍha, the Blessed One would today expel Dabba the Mallaputta.” “What can I do, sirs? What is it possible for me to do?” “Come, friend Vaḍḍha, approach the Blessed One, and having approached, say this to the Blessed One: ‘This, Venerable sir, this is unseemly, this is unfitting. This direction, venerable sir, which was fearless, without trouble, without danger, that direction is now fearful, with trouble, with danger. Where there was no wind, there is now wind. The water, it seems, is ablaze. My wife has been defiled by the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta. "Yes, venerable sir," said Vaḍḍha the Licchavi to the bhikkhus of Mettiyabhūmajaka, and having assented, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Vaḍḍha the Licchavi said this to the Blessed One: "This, venerable sir, is unseemly, this is unfitting. This direction, venerable sir, which was fearless, without trouble, without danger, that direction is now fearful, with trouble, with danger. Where there was no wind, there is now wind. The water, it seems, is ablaze. My wife has been defiled by the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta." Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, convened the assembly of bhikkhus and questioned the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta: "Do you remember, Dabba, having done such a thing as this Vaḍḍha alleges?" "As the Blessed One knows me, venerable sir." A second time the Blessed One... ...a third time the Blessed One said to the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta: "Do you remember, Dabba, having done such a thing as this Vaḍḍha alleges?" "As the Blessed One knows me, venerable sir." "Indeed, Dabba, Dabbas do not evade in this way. If it was done by you, say it was done; if it was not done, say it was not done." "Since I was born, venerable sir, I do not recall having engaged in sexual intercourse even in a dream, much less while awake." Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Therefore, bhikkhus, the Sangha should overturn the bowl for Vaḍḍha the Licchavi. Let there be no communion with the Sangha. "The bowl should be overturned for a lay follower, bhikkhus, who is endowed with eight qualities: He strives for the bhikkhus' loss, he strives for the bhikkhus' harm, he strives for the bhikkhus' not dwelling [here]. he troubles the dwelling, he abuses and reviles the bhikkhus, he divides bhikkhus from bhikkhus, he speaks dispraise of the Buddha, he speaks dispraise of the Dhamma, he speaks dispraise of the Saṅgha. I allow, bhikkhus, to overturn the bowl for a lay follower endowed with these eight qualities. And thus, bhikkhus, it should be overturned. A competent and capable bhikkhu should inform the Saṅgha – 266. "May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. Vaḍḍha the Licchavi slanders the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta with a baseless charge of moral failure. If it is fitting for the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should overturn the bowl for Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, and make him have no communion with the Saṅgha. This is the motion. "May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. Vaḍḍha the Licchavi slanders the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta with a baseless charge of moral failure. The Saṅgha overturns the bowl for Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, and makes him have no communion with the Saṅgha. Whoever of the venerable ones approves of the overturning of the bowl for Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, and his having no communion with the Saṅgha, let him be silent; whoever does not approve, let him speak. "The bowl has been overturned by the Saṅgha for Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, he has no communion with the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha approves, therefore it is silent, thus do I hold this." Then the venerable Ānanda, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi. Having approached, he said to Vaḍḍha the Licchavi: "Your bowl, friend Vaḍḍha, has been overturned by the Saṅgha. You have no communion with the Saṅgha." Then Vaḍḍha the Licchavi—"My bowl has been overturned by the Saṅgha, I have no communion with the Saṅgha"—thereupon fainted and fell down. Then Vaḍḍha the Licchavi's friends, ministers, relatives, and kinsmen said to Vaḍḍha the Licchavi: "Enough, friend Vaḍḍha, do not grieve, do not lament. We will appease the Blessed One and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus." Then Vaḍḍha the Licchavi s without wife and children, with friends and ministers, with relatives and kinsmen, with wet clothes, with wet hair, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, and prostrated with his head at the feet of the Blessed One, he said this to the Blessed One: “An offense, venerable sir, has overcome me, as a fool, as a deluded one, as an unskillful one, in that I slandered the venerable Dabba the Mallaputta with a baseless charge of moral transgression. May the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept my offense as an offense, for future restraint.” “Indeed, friend Vaḍḍha, an offense has overcome you, as a fool, as a deluded one, as an unskillful one, in that you slandered Dabba the Mallaputta with a baseless charge of moral transgression. But since you, friend Vaḍḍha, seeing the offense as an offense, make amends according to the Dhamma, we accept it from you. This is growth, friend Vaḍḍha, in the discipline of the Noble One, that one who, seeing an offense as an offense, makes amends according to the Dhamma, attains future restraint.” Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Therefore, bhikkhus, let the Saṅgha overturn the bowl for Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, and make communion with the Saṅgha.” “The bowl of a lay follower, bhikkhus, who is endowed with eight qualities, should be overturned: He does not strive for the bhikkhus’ loss, he does not strive for the bhikkhus’ detriment, he does not strive for the bhikkhus’ non-residence, he does not revile or abuse the bhikkhus, he does not cause bhikkhus to break with bhikkhus, he does not speak ill of the Buddha, he does not speak ill of the Dhamma, he does not speak ill of the Saṅgha. I permit, bhikkhus, to overturn the bowl for a lay follower who is endowed with these eight qualities. And thus, bhikkhus, it should be overturned. Then, bhikkhus, Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, having approached the Saṅgha, having arranged his outer robe over one shoulder, having paid homage at the feet of the bhikkhus, having sat down on his haunches, having raised his joined hands, should be addressed thus: ‘Venerable sirs, my bowl has been overturned by the Saṅgha, I am without communion with the Saṅgha. Therefore, venerable sirs, I behave properly, I shed my hair, I make amends, I ask the Sangha to restore my bowl. A second time he should be asked. A third time he should be asked. By a competent, capable bhikkhu, the Sangha should be informed – 267. "May the Sangha, venerable sirs, hear me. The bowl of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi has been overturned by the Sangha, there is no communion with the Sangha. He behaves properly, he sheds his hair, he makes amends, he asks the Sangha to restore his bowl. If it is suitable for the Sangha, the Sangha should restore the bowl of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, and make communion with the Sangha. This is the motion. "May the Sangha, venerable sirs, hear me. The bowl of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi has been overturned by the Sangha, there is no communion with the Sangha. He behaves properly, he sheds his hair, he makes amends, he asks the Sangha to restore his bowl. The Sangha restores the bowl of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi, and makes communion with the Sangha. To whichever venerable one it is agreeable that the bowl of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi be restored, and communion with the Sangha be made, let him be silent; to whom it is not agreeable, let him speak. "The bowl of Vaḍḍha the Licchavi has been restored by the Sangha, and there is communion with the Sangha. It is agreeable to the Sangha, therefore it is silent, thus I hold this to be." 268. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Vesālī as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards the Bhaggas. Journeying by stages, he arrived among the Bhaggas. There, it is said, the Blessed One dwelled among the Bhaggas, at Susumāragira, in the Bhesakaḷāvana deer park. Now at that time, Prince Bodhi had recently had a palace built named Kokanada, which had not yet been inhabited by any ascetic, brahmin, or any human being. Then Prince Bodhi addressed the young man Sañjikāputta – "Come, friend Sañjikāputta, go to the Blessed One, and having approached, bow your head at the feet of the Blessed One in my name, Ask about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of rising, strength, and comfortable living – ‘Bodhi, venerable sir, the prince, bows his head at the feet of the Blessed One, and asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of rising, strength, and comfortable living.’ And also say this: ‘May the Blessed One, venerable sir, please accept tomorrow’s meal from Prince Bodhi, together with the community of monks.’ ” “Yes, sir,” replied the young man Sañcikāputta, having assented to Prince Bodhi, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. After exchanging courteous and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the young man Sañcikāputta said this to the Blessed One: “Prince Bodhi bows his head at the feet of Master Gotama, and asks about his freedom from illness,