English
freedom from affliction, lightness of rising, strength, and comfortable living. And he says this: ‘May Master Gotama please accept tomorrow’s meal from Prince Bodhi, together with the community of monks.’ ” The Blessed One accepted by remaining silent. Then the young man Sañcikāputta, knowing the Blessed One’s acceptance, rose from his seat and approached Prince Bodhi. Having approached, he said this to Prince Bodhi: “We have indeed spoken to Master Gotama on your behalf – ‘Prince Bodhi bows his head at the feet of Master Gotama, and asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of rising, strength, and comfortable living. And he says this: May Master Gotama please accept tomorrow’s meal from Prince Bodhi, together with the community of monks.’ And indeed, the ascetic Gotama has accepted.” Then Prince Bodhi, when that night had passed, had exquisite hard and soft food prepared. And he had the Kokanada palace spread with white cloths, all the way to the last step. Then he addressed the young man Sañcikāputta: “Come, friend Sañcikāputta, go to the Blessed One, and… Go, having approached, announce the time to the Blessed One – ‘It is time, Venerable Sir, the meal is ready.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ replied the young man Sañcikāputta to Prince Bodhi. He then approached the Blessed One, and having approached, announced the time to the Blessed One – ‘It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready.’ Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed and taken his bowl and robe, went to the residence of Prince Bodhi. Now at that time, Prince Bodhi was standing at the outer gatehouse, awaiting the Blessed One. Prince Bodhi saw the Blessed One approaching from afar. Having seen him, he went forth to meet him, saluted the Blessed One, and leading the way, went to the Kokanada palace. Then the Blessed One stood at the foot of the last flight of stairs. Then Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: ‘Please, Venerable Sir, step on the cloths! Please, Fortunate One, step on the cloths! May this be for my long-term welfare and happiness!’ When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. A second time… A third time, Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: ‘Please, Venerable Sir, step on the cloths! Please, Fortunate One, step on the cloths! May this be for my long-term welfare and happiness!’ Then the Blessed One looked at Venerable Ānanda. Then Venerable Ānanda said to Prince Bodhi: ‘Please remove the cloths, Prince. The Blessed One will not step on cloth. The Tathāgata has compassion for later generations.’ Then Prince Bodhi had the cloths removed, and prepared a seat in the upper Kokanada palace. Then the Blessed One ascended the Kokanada palace, and sat on the prepared seat, together with the community of bhikkhus. Then Prince Bodhi, with his own hands, satisfied and served the community of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, with exquisite hard and soft foods. Having invited the Blessed One, who had eaten and whose bowl and hand had been removed, he sat down to one side. Indeed, Bodhi the prince, having sat to one side, the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened him with a talk on Dhamma, then rose from his seat and departed. Then indeed the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, having given a talk on Dhamma, addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, a cloth mat should not be stepped on. Whoever steps on it incurs an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, a certain woman, having miscarried, invited the bhikkhus, spread out a cloth, and said this: "Venerable sirs, step on the cloth." The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, did not step on it. "Venerable sirs, step on the cloth for good fortune." The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, did not step on it. Then indeed that woman complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can the noble ones, when asked for good fortune, not step on the cloth mat!" Indeed the bhikkhus heard that woman complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Then indeed those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Householders, bhikkhus, are superstitious. I permit, bhikkhus, when asked by householders for good fortune, to step on a cloth mat." Now at that time, the bhikkhus felt scruples about stepping on a place where feet had been washed. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I permit, bhikkhus, to step on a place where feet have been washed." The second recitation section is finished. 269. Then indeed the Blessed One, having stayed in Bhaggas as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Sāvatthī. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Sāvatthī. There, it is said, the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then indeed Visākhā, Migāra's mother, taking a water pot, a broom, and a dustpan, approached the Blessed One, having approached, she saluted the Blessed One, and sat down to one side. Indeed, Visākhā, Migāra's mother, having sat to one side, the Blessed One to him she said: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept from me a water-pot, a comb, and a broom, for my long-term welfare and happiness." The Blessed One accepted the water-pot and the broom. The Blessed One did not accept the comb. Then the Blessed One Visakha, Migara's mother, instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened with a Dhamma talk. Then Visakha, Migara's mother, having been instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, rose from her seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: "Monks, I allow a water-pot and a broom. Monks, a comb should not be used. Whoever uses one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. Monks, I allow three foot-scrapers: a stone, a potsherd, and sea-foam." Then Visakha, Migara's mother, taking a fan and a palm-leaf fan, approached the Blessed One; having approached, she saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Visakha, Migara's mother, said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept from me a fan and a palm-leaf fan, for my long-term welfare and happiness." The Blessed One accepted the fan and the palm-leaf fan. Then the Blessed One Visakha, Migara's mother, instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened with a Dhamma talk. Then Visakha, Migara's mother, having been instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, rose from her seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this incident, on account of this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: "Monks, I allow a fan and a palm-leaf fan." Now at that time, a mosquito-fan had arisen for the Sangha. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, I allow a mosquito-fan." A yak-tail whisk. had arisen. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a yak-tail fan should not be held. Whoever holds one, there is an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, three kinds of fans – one made of bark, one made of usīra grass, one made of peacock feathers.” 270. At that time, a parasol had arisen for the Saṅgha. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a parasol.” At that time, the group of six monks wandered about holding parasols. At that time, a certain lay follower went to a park with many Ājīvaka disciples. Those Ājīvaka disciples saw the group of six monks approaching from afar, holding parasols. Having seen them, they said to that lay follower, “These, sir, are your revered ones approaching, holding parasols, just like high officials.” “Sirs, these are not monks, they are wanderers.” They made a wonder, ‘Monks or not monks?’ Then that lay follower, recognizing them when they came near, complained, grumbled, criticized, “How can it be, revered sirs, that you wander about holding parasols!” The monks heard that lay follower complaining, grumbling, criticizing. Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Is it true, monks…pe… “It is true, Blessed One”…pe… Having rebuked them…pe… Having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: “Monks, a parasol should not be held. Whoever holds one, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, a certain monk was ill. It was not comfortable for that monk without a parasol. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, an ill person to hold a parasol.” At that time, the monks, thinking that the Blessed One had allowed a parasol only for the ill, not for the non-ill, were scrupulous about holding a parasol in the monastery and in the monastery precincts. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, even for one not sick, to carry an umbrella in the monastery, within the monastery precincts." Now at that time, a certain monk, having lifted his bowl in a net, and hung it on a stick, was passing through a certain village gate at an improper time. People— "This venerable one is a thief going, his head is gleaming!"— pursued him, seized him, recognized him, and released him. Then that monk went to the monastery and reported this matter to the monks. "But friend, do you carry a bowl-stick?" "Yes, friend." Those monks who were of few wishes... they complained, grumbled, and criticized— "How can a monk carry a bowl-stick!" Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One... "Is it true, Blessed One?"... having rebuked him... having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks— "Monks, a bowl-stick should not be carried. Whoever carries one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, a certain monk was sick, he could not walk without a stick. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to grant stick-permission to a sick monk." "And thus, monks, it should be granted." That sick monk, having approached the Saṅgha, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having paid homage