English
6. The Chapter on Dwellings 1. The First Recitation Section Permission for Monasteries 294. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at Kalandakanivāpa. At that time, dwellings had not been permitted by the Blessed One for the bhikkhus. And those bhikkhus were dwelling here and there – in the wilderness, at the foot of trees, on mountains, in ravines, in mountain caves, in charnel grounds, in forest groves, in the open air, on heaps of straw. Early in the morning, they would emerge from here and there – from the wilderness, from the foot of trees, from mountains, from ravines, from mountain caves, from charnel grounds, from forest groves, from the open air, from heaps of straw, with graceful going forth and returning, with looking ahead and looking around, with bending and stretching, with downcast eyes, perfect in their deportment. At that time, the wealthy man of Rājagaha went to his park early in the morning. The wealthy man of Rājagaha saw those bhikkhus emerging early in the morning from here and there – from the wilderness, from the foot of trees, from mountains, from ravines, from mountain caves, from charnel grounds, from forest groves, from the open air, from heaps of straw, with graceful going forth and returning, with looking ahead and looking around, with bending and stretching, with downcast eyes, perfect in their deportment. Having seen them, his mind was pleased. Then the wealthy man of Rājagaha approached those bhikkhus, and having approached, he said to those bhikkhus, “If I, sirs, were to have monasteries built, would you dwell in my monasteries?” “Dwellings, householder, have not been permitted by the Blessed One.” “Then, sirs, please ask the Blessed One and inform me.” “Yes, householder,” those bhikkhus replied to the wealthy man of Rājagaha, and then they approached the Blessed One, and having approached, they bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Blessed One, “The wealthy man of Rājagaha, sir, wishes to have monasteries built. How, sir, should we proceed?” Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, in this connection, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: "I allow, bhikkhus, five dwellings: a monastery, a half-gabled house, a palace, a storied mansion, a cave." Then those bhikkhus approached the Rajagaha financier. Having approached, they said to the Rajagaha financier: "Dwellings, householder, have been allowed by the Blessed One; now you may do as you think fit." Then the Rajagaha financier, in a single day, established sixty dwellings. Then the Rajagaha financier, having completed those sixty dwellings, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Rajagaha financier said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, consent to a meal for tomorrow, together with the community of bhikkhus." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then the Rajagaha financier, knowing the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him to his right, and departed. Then the Rajagaha financier, when that night had passed, had choice hard and soft food prepared, and had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, venerable sir, the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the Rajagaha financier. Having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat, together with the community of bhikkhus. Then the Rajagaha financier, having personally satisfied and served the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with choice hard and soft food, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Rajagaha financier said to the Blessed One: "These sixty dwellings, venerable sir, have been built by me, desiring merit, desiring heaven. How, venerable sir, should I proceed with regard to these dwellings?" "In that case..." "You, householder, establish these sixty monasteries for the Sangha of the four directions, present and not yet present." "Yes, venerable sir," the Rajagahaka banker, having assented to the Blessed One, established those sixty monasteries for the Sangha of the four directions, present and not yet present. 295. Then the Blessed One gladdened the Rajagahaka banker with these verses: "They ward off cold, heat, and also wild animals; Snakes and mosquitoes, and also rains in winter. "Then fierce wind and sun, arising, are warded off; For shelter and for comfort, for meditating and for insight. "The gift of a monastery to the Sangha, is praised as supreme by the Buddhas; Therefore, a wise person, seeing his own welfare, "Should have charming monasteries built, and have the learned dwell there; To them, food and drink, clothing and lodging, Should be given with a mind purified, to those who are upright. "They teach him the Dhamma, the remover of all suffering; Having understood that Dhamma here, he attains Nibbana, taintless." Then the Blessed One, having gladdened the Rajagahaka banker with these verses, rose from his seat and departed. 296. People heard, "Indeed, monasteries have been permitted by the Blessed One," and they diligently had monasteries built. Those monasteries had no doors; snakes, scorpions, and centipedes entered. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I permit, monks, a door." They made a hole in the wall and fastened the door with a creeper or a rope. Rats and termites gnawed them. The fastenings, being gnawed, the doors fell. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I permit, monks, a back-bar, a door-socket, an upper-bar." The doors did not touch. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I permit, monks, a pull-hole, a pull-rope." The doors did not close. The Blessed reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bolt-pin, a monkey-head bolt, a latch, a lock." At that time, monks were unable to open doors. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a keyhole. Three keys: an iron key, a wooden key, a horn key." When they opened and entered with these, the monasteries were unguarded. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a latch-pin." At that time, the monasteries were thatched; they were cold in the cold season, hot in the hot season. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to plaster and whitewash them." At that time, the monasteries had no windows, they were without light, and foul-smelling. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, three kinds of windows: a latticed window, a net window, a barred window." Through the window-openings, snakes and bats entered. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a window-shutter." Through the shutter-openings, snakes and bats also entered. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a window-door, a window-screen." At that time, monks slept on the ground. Their bodies and robes were covered in dust. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a grass mat." The grass mat was eaten by mice and termites. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bamboo mat." With a bamboo mat, the body was uncomfortable. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a split-bamboo bed." Permission for beds, chairs, etc. 297. At that time, At that time, for the Sangha, a plain bed with a woven surface appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bed with a woven surface." A chair with a woven surface appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a chair with a woven surface." At that time, for the Sangha, a plain bed bound with bundles appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bed bound with bundles." A chair bound with bundles appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a chair bound with bundles." At that time, for the Sangha, a plain bed with crab-feet appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bed with crab-feet." A chair with crab-feet appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a chair with crab-feet." At that time, for the Sangha, a plain bed with detachable feet appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bed with detachable feet." A chair with detachable feet appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a chair with detachable feet." At that time, for the Sangha, a long chair appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a long chair." A high long chair appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, even a high long chair." A seven-part chair appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a seven-part chair." A high seven-part chair appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, even a high seven-part chair." A fine chair appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a fine chair." They kill. A small stool appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a small stool.” A ram-legged stool appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a ram-legged stool.” An emblic-myrobalan-shaped stool appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, an emblic-myrobalan-shaped stool.” A plank appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a plank.” A cushion appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a cushion.” A straw stool appeared. They reported this matter to the Blessed One.