English
“Monks, I allow tweezers.” Now at that time, the group of six monks removed grey hairs. People complained, grumbled, criticized —just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a hair-plucker should not be allowed. Whoever allows it, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” 276. At that time, the ears of a certain monk were blocked with earwax. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, I allow an ear-cleaner.” At that time, the group of six monks were wearing various ear-cleaners, 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 ear-cleaners should not be worn. Whoever wears them, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Monks, I allow those made of bone, made of ivory, made of horn, made of reed, made of bamboo, made of wood, made of lac, made of fruit, made of metal, made of conch-shell.” 277. At that time, the group of six monks were accumulating many bronze vessels and brass vessels. People, wandering on pilgrimage to the monasteries, seeing them, complained, grumbled, and criticized— “How can these Sakyan recluses accumulate many bronze vessels and brass vessels, just like brass-dealers!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, many bronze vessels and brass vessels should not be accumulated. Whoever accumulates them, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, monks were scrupulous about eye-ointment, eye-ointment sticks, ear-cleaners, and even their bindings. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, I allow eye-ointment, eye-ointment sticks, ear-cleaners, and their bindings.” At that time, the group of six monks were sitting on their outer robes. The bowls were falling from their outer robes. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, one should not sit on an outer robe. Whoever sits , an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, a certain bhikkhu was ill. Without a support, he was not comfortable. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, a support.” Then it occurred to the bhikkhus, “How should a support be made?” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, a thread, a loom, a frame, a stick, all weaving equipment.” 278. At that time, a certain bhikkhu entered a village for alms without a waist-band. His inner robe slipped down in the street. People made an outcry. 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. “Bhikkhus, a village should not be entered without a waist-band. Whoever enters, an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, bhikkhus, a waist-band.” At that time, the group of six bhikkhus wore various waist-bands—a kalābuka, a deḍḍubhaka, a muraja, a maddavīṇa. People complained, grumbled, and criticized— “Just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, various waist-bands should not be worn—a kalābuka, a deḍḍubhaka, a muraja, a maddavīṇa. Whoever wears one, an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, bhikkhus, two waist-bands—a strip, a boar’s tooth.” The ends of the waist-band wear out… (as before) … “I allow, bhikkhus, a muraja, a maddavīṇa.” The inside of the waist-band wears out… (as before) … “I allow, bhikkhus, an ornamental cord.” The woven part of the waist-band wears out… (as before) … “I allow, bhikkhus, a loop.” At that time, the group of six bhikkhus wore various loops—a golden r of silver. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "Just like laypeople who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, various kinds of fasteners should not be worn. Whoever wears them commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, those made of bone... ...of conch-shell, of thread." 279. At that time, Venerable Ānanda, wearing light robes, entered a village for alms. A gust of wind lifted his robes. Then Venerable Ānanda went to the monastery and reported this matter to the monks. The monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a knot-fastener." At that time, the group of six monks wore various kinds of knot-fasteners: of gold, of silver. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "Just like laypeople who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, various kinds of knot-fasteners should not be worn. Whoever wears them commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, those made of bone, of ivory, of horn, of reed, of bamboo, of wood, of lac, of fruit, of metal, of conch-shell, of thread." At that time, the monks attached both knot-fasteners and loop-fasteners to the robe. The robe wore out. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a knot-board, a loop-board." They attached both the knot-board and the loop-board at the edge. The corner opened up. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to attach the knot-board at the edge; to attach the loop-board by inserting it seven or eight finger-breadths." 280. At that time, the group of six monks wore laymen's garments: elephant-trunk style, fish-tail style, four-cornered style, palm-leaf style, hundred-fold pleated style. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "Just like like those who enjoy sensual pleasures. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, clothing worn by laypeople should not be worn – like an elephant's trunk, a fish's tail, four-cornered, a palm-leaf fan, or with a hundred pleats. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." At that time, the group of six monks wore the outer robes of laypeople. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "Just like laypeople who enjoy sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, the outer robes of laypeople should not be worn. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." At that time, the group of six monks wore their lower robes in a rolled-up fashion. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "Just like the king's servants!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, the lower robe should not be worn in a rolled-up fashion. Whoever wears it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." 281. At that time, the group of six monks carried loads on both shoulders. People complained, grumbled, and criticized – "Just like the king's servants!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, loads should not be carried on both shoulders. Whoever carries it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. Monks, I allow carrying on one shoulder, carrying between the shoulders, carrying on the head, carrying on the shoulder, carrying on the hip, and hanging down." 282. At that time, the monks did not chew tooth-sticks. Their mouths were foul-smelling. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, there are these five disadvantages in not chewing a tooth-stick. It is not good for the eyes, the mouth is foul-smelling, the taste-nerves are not purified, bile and phlegm cover the food, and the food does not appeal to him – these, monks, are the five disadvantages in not chewing a tooth-stick. "Monks, there are these five advantages in chewing a tooth-stick. It is good for the eyes, the mouth is not foul-smelling, the taste-nerves are purified, bile and phlegm do not cover the food, and the food appeals to him – these, monks, Monks, there are five benefits in chewing a tooth-stick. I allow, monks, a tooth-stick. Now at that time, the group of six monks chewed long tooth-sticks. With these, they struck the novices. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a long tooth-stick should not be chewed. Whoever chews one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, a tooth-stick up to eight finger-breadths, and a novice should not be struck with it. Whoever strikes one, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, a certain monk, while chewing a very thick tooth-stick, had it stick in his throat. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a very thick tooth-stick should not be chewed. Whoever chews one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, a tooth-stick down to four finger-breadths.” 283. Now at that time, the group of six monks set fire to the jungle. People complained, grumbled, and criticized— “Just like a forest fire!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, the jungle should not be set on fire. Whoever sets it on fire, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, the monasteries were overgrown with grass. When a forest fire burned, the monasteries burned. The monks were scrupulous about setting a counter-fire, about making a firebreak. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, when a forest fire is burning, to set a counter-fire, to make a firebreak.” 284. Now at that time, the group of six monks climbed trees, they swung from tree to tree. People complained, grumbled, and criticized— “Just like monkeys!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a tree should not be climbed. Whoever climbs one, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, a certain monk, while going to Savatthi in the Kosalan country, on the way, an elephant approached. Then that bhikkhu, running to the root of a tree, being scrupulous, did not climb the tree. That elephant went away by another path. Then that bhikkhu, going to Sāvatthī, reported this matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, when there is a need, for a man to climb a tree, in emergencies, as much as necessary.” 285. Now at that time, the bhikkhus named Yameḷakekuṭā, two brothers, of brahmin birth, with beautiful voices, with beautiful speech, approached the Blessed One. Having approached,