English
at the feet of the elder monks, having squatted, having raised his joined hands, should be addressed thus— 'Venerable sirs, I am sick; I cannot walk without a stick. Therefore, venerable sirs, I ask the Saṅgha for stick-permission.' A second time it should be asked. A third time it should be asked. A competent and able monk should inform the Saṅgha— "May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. This monk, named so-and-so, is sick, he cannot walk without a stick. He asks the Saṅgha for stick-permission. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should grant stick-permission to this monk, named so-and-so. This is the motion." "May listen" Hear me, venerable sirs, Saṅgha. This bhikkhu, so-and-so by name, is ill, He cannot walk without a staff. He asks the Saṅgha for permission for a staff. The Saṅgha grants permission for a staff to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name. To whichever venerable one it is agreeable to grant permission for a staff to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name, Let him be silent; To whom it is not agreeable, let him speak. Permission for a staff has been granted by the Saṅgha to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent, Thus do I hold it. 271. Now at that time, a certain bhikkhu was ill, He could not carry his bowl without a sling. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, bhikkhus, to grant permission for a sling to an ill bhikkhu. And thus, bhikkhus, it should be granted. That ill bhikkhu, having approached the Saṅgha, Having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, Having bowed at the feet of the elder bhikkhus, Having sat squatting, Having raised his joined hands, Should be addressed thus: 'I, venerable sirs, am ill; I cannot carry my bowl without a sling. Therefore I, venerable sirs, ask the Saṅgha for permission for a sling.' A second time it should be asked. A third time it should be asked. A competent and capable bhikkhu should inform the Saṅgha: 'Hear me, venerable sirs, Saṅgha. This bhikkhu, so-and-so by name, is ill, He cannot carry his bowl without a sling. He asks the Saṅgha for permission for a sling. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, The Saṅgha may grant permission for a sling to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name. This is the motion. 'Hear me, venerable sirs, Saṅgha. This bhikkhu, so-and-so by name, is ill, He cannot carry his bowl without a sling. He asks the Saṅgha for permission for a sling. The Saṅgha grants permission for a sling to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name. To whichever venerable one it is agreeable to grant permission for a sling to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name, Let him be silent; To whom it is not agreeable, let him speak. Permission for a sling has been granted by the Saṅgha to this bhikkhu, so-and-so by name. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha. Therefore, be silent. Thus I hold this to be so.” 272. Now at that time, a certain monk was ill. He was unable to walk without a staff. He was unable to carry his bowl without a sling. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, to grant a staff-and-sling permission to an ill monk. And thus, monks, it should be granted. That ill monk, having approached the Saṅgha, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having paid homage to the feet of the elder monks, having squatted, having raised his hands in anjali, should be addressed thus: ‘Venerable sirs, I am ill; I am unable to walk without a staff; I am unable to carry my bowl without a sling. Therefore, venerable sirs, I ask the Saṅgha for staff-and-sling permission.’ A second time he should ask. A third time he should ask. A competent and capable monk should inform the Saṅgha: “May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. This monk of such-and-such a name is ill, he is unable to walk without a staff, he is unable to carry his bowl without a sling. He asks the Saṅgha for staff-and-sling permission. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should grant staff-and-sling permission to this monk of such-and-such a name. This is the motion. “May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. This monk of such-and-such a name is ill, he is unable to walk without a staff, he is unable to carry his bowl without a sling. He asks the Saṅgha for staff-and-sling permission. The Saṅgha grants staff-and-sling permission to this monk of such-and-such a name. Whose venerable one approves of the granting of staff-and-sling permission to this monk of such-and-such a name, he should be silent; whose does not approve, he should speak. “Staff-and-sling permission has been granted by the Saṅgha to this monk of such-and-such a name. The Saṅgha approves, therefore, it is silent. Thus I hold this to be so.” 273. Now at that time, a certain monk was a ruminant. He would ruminate and ruminate and swallow. Bhikkhus complained, grumbled, criticized: "How can this bhikkhu eat food at the wrong time?" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "This bhikkhu, monks, has recently passed away from the cow-womb. I allow, monks, the rumination of a ruminant. But, monks, it should not be taken out through the mouth-door and then swallowed. Whoever swallows it thus, should be dealt with according to the Dhamma." Now at that time, there was a community meal for a certain group. Many grains of rice were scattered at the dining place. People complained, grumbled, criticized: "How can these Sakyan recluses, when rice is being given, not receive it carefully? Each single grain of rice is produced with a hundred efforts!" The bhikkhus heard those people complaining, grumbling, criticizing. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that which falls while being given, to be picked up and eaten by oneself. That, monks, has been relinquished by the donors." 274. Now at that time, a certain bhikkhu went for alms with long fingernails. A certain woman, seeing that bhikkhu, said to him: "Come, venerable sir, engage in sexual intercourse." "Enough, sister, this is not proper." "If you, venerable sir, do not engage, then I will now scratch my body with my fingernails and make a commotion: 'This bhikkhu has assaulted me!'" "Do as you please, sister." Then that woman scratched her body with her fingernails and made a commotion: "This bhikkhu has assaulted me!" People rushed up and seized that bhikkhu. Those people saw the skin and blood on that woman's fingernails. Seeing this, they thought: "This deed is by this woman herself, the bhikkhu is innocent." And they released that bhikkhu. Then that bhikkhu... Then he went to the monastery and reported this matter to the monks. "But friend, do you keep long nails?" "Yes, friend." Those monks who were of few wishes... they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can a monk keep long nails!" Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, long nails should not be kept. Whoever keeps them, there is an offense of wrong-doing." At that time, monks cut nails with nails, and cut nails with their mouths, and rubbed them against walls. Their fingers became painful. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, I allow nail-clippers." They cut nails with blood. Their fingers became painful... "Monks, I allow cutting nails to the measure of the flesh." At that time, the group of six monks had twenty-finger-nail-length nails made. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "Just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, twenty-finger-nail-length nails should not be made. Whoever makes them, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Monks, I allow removing only the dirt." 275. At that time, the monks' hair was long. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, are the monks able to cut each other's hair?" "They are able, Blessed One." Then the Blessed One, on account of this cause, on account of this matter, having assembled the community of monks... addressed the monks: "Monks, I allow a razor, a razor-stone, a razor-strap, a cloth, all razor equipment." At that time, the group of six monks had their beards trimmed... had their beards grown long... had them made like a goat's beard... had them made square... had them made round the face... had them made half-round... had them made like tusks... …they removed hair in the private parts. People complained, grumbled, criticized – “Just like householders indulging in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a beard should not be trimmed. A beard should not be grown long. A goat-beard should not be made. A square beard should not be made. A circular beard should not be made. A half-beard should not be made. Sideburns should not be kept. Hair in the private parts should not be removed. Whoever removes it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, a certain monk had a wound in his private parts. Medicine would not stay on. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, I allow, for reason of illness, to remove hair in the private parts.” Now at that time, the group of six monks had their hair cut with scissors. People complained, grumbled, criticized – “Just like householders indulging in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, hair should not be cut with scissors. Whoever cuts it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, a certain monk had a wound on his head, and could not shave his hair with a razor. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, I allow, for reason of illness, to cut hair with scissors.” Now at that time, monks wore long nose hairs. People complained, grumbled, criticized – “Just like goblins!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, long nose hair should not be worn. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, monks removed nose hair with sugar and with beeswax. Their noses became painful. They reported this matter to the Blessed One.