English
Just as, Bhante, one might set upright what was overturned, or reveal what was hidden, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the darkness—so that those with eyes might see forms—even so has the Dhamma been expounded by the Bhagavā in many ways. I, Bhante, go for refuge to the Bhagavā, to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the Bhagavā remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth, for as long as life lasts. May the Bhagavā accept and may the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept tomorrow's meal together with the community of monks." The Blessed One accepted by silence. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, knowing the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, and departed. Now the Rajagaha financier heard: "Indeed, Anāthapiṇḍika the householder has invited the Sangha headed by the Buddha for tomorrow." Then the Rajagaha financier said to Anāthapiṇḍika the householder: "Indeed, householder, you have invited the Sangha headed by the Buddha for tomorrow. And you are a newcomer. I will give you, householder, expenses so that you may prepare a meal for the Sangha headed by the Buddha." "Enough, householder; I have expenses with which I will prepare a meal for the Sangha headed by the Buddha." Now the Rajagaha townsman heard: "Indeed, Anāthapiṇḍika the householder has invited the Sangha headed by the Buddha for tomorrow." Then the Rajagaha townsman said to Anāthapiṇḍika the householder: "Indeed, householder, you have invited the Sangha headed by the Buddha for tomorrow. And you are a newcomer. I will give you, householder, expenses so that you may prepare a meal for the Sangha headed by the Buddha." "Enough, sir; I have expenses with which I will prepare a meal for the Sangha headed by the Buddha." Now King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha heard: "Indeed, Anāthapiṇḍika the householder has invited the Sangha headed by the Buddha for tomorrow." Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha said to Anāthapiṇḍika the householder: "Indeed, householder, you have invited the Sangha headed by the Buddha for tomorrow. And you are a newcomer. I will give you, householder, expenses so that you may prepare a meal for the Sangha headed by the Buddha." "Enough, devā; I have expenses with which I will prepare a meal for the Sangha headed by the Buddha." Now, Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, when that night had passed, had choice hard and soft food prepared at the house of the Rajagaha banker, and announced the time to the Blessed One: “It is time, Venerable Sir, the meal is ready.” Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went to the house of the Rajagaha banker. Having gone there, he sat down on the seat prepared, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, with his own hands, satisfied and served the Sangha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with choice hard and soft food. When the Blessed One had eaten and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Anāthapiṇḍika the householder said this to the Blessed One: “May the Blessed One, Venerable Sir, consent to spend the rainy season in Sāvatthī together with the Sangha of bhikkhus.” “Tathāgatas, householder, delight in empty dwellings.” “Understood, Blessed One, understood, Sugata.” Then the Blessed One, having instructed, incited, inspired, and gladdened Anāthapiṇḍika the householder with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat and departed. 307. Now at that time, Anāthapiṇḍika the householder had many friends, many companions, and his word was heeded. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, having settled that matter in Rājagaha, departed for Sāvatthī. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, along the way, instructed people: “Make parks, sirs, establish monasteries, set up alms-givings. A Buddha has arisen in the world. And that Blessed One has been invited by me and will come by this road.” Then those people, sent forth by Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, made parks, established monasteries, set up alms-givings. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, having gone to Sāvatthī, looked all around Sāvatthī: “Where might the Blessed One dwell? Which would be neither too far from the village nor too near?” not too far, not too near, easy to go to and from, desirable for those who seek, not crowded by day, not noisy by night, without loud sounds, secluded and breezy, a place for human privacy, suitable for seclusion. Anāthapiṇḍika the householder saw Prince Jeta's park: not too far from the village, not too near, easy to go to and from, desirable for those who seek, not crowded by day, not noisy by night, without loud sounds, secluded and breezy, a place for human privacy, suitable for seclusion. Having seen it, he approached Prince Jeta. Having approached, he said to Prince Jeta: "Give me, dear sir, this park to make a monastery." "The park is not to be given, householder, even for a spread of crores." "It is taken, dear sir, the park." "No, householder, the park is not taken." "Taken or not taken?" they asked the legal ministers. The ministers said thus: "Since you, dear sir, have named a price, the park is taken." Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder had money brought out in carts, and had it spread over Jetavana, a spread of crores. The money brought out once was not enough for a small space near the gate. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder commanded his men: "Go, sirs, bring more money; we will cover this space." Then Prince Jeta thought: "This is no small matter, that this householder sacrifices so much money." He said to Anāthapiṇḍika the householder: "Enough, householder; do not cover that space. Give me that space. Let that be my donation." Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder (thought): "This Prince Jeta is a well-known, respected person. Great indeed is the faith of such respected people in this Dhamma and Discipline." – He gave that plot of land to Prince Jeta. Then Prince Jeta had a gatehouse built on that plot of land. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder had monasteries built in Jetavana, he had cells built, he had gatehouses built, he had service halls built, he had fire halls built, he had suitable huts built, he had latrines built, he had cloisters built, he had cloister halls built, he had wells built, he had well houses built, he had bathhouses built, he had bathhouse halls built, he had ponds built, he had pavilions built. New Construction 308. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Rājagaha as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Vesālī. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Vesālī. There the Blessed One stayed in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Now at that time, people were diligently engaged in new construction. And those bhikkhus who undertook new construction were diligently attended to with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and requisites for the sick, medicine. Then it occurred to a certain poor tailor, “This will not be a small matter, how diligently these people are engaged in new construction; what if I too were to undertake new construction?” Then that poor tailor, having himself kneaded mud and laid bricks, erected a wall. Because it was poorly built, the crooked wall collapsed. A second time… A third time that poor tailor, having himself kneaded mud and laid bricks, erected a wall. Because it was poorly built, the crooked wall collapsed. Then that poor tailor complained, grumbled, and lamented, “Those who give these Sakyan ascetics robes, almsfood, lodgings, and requisites for the sick, medicine, them they advise and instruct, and for them they undertake new construction. But I am poor. Not No one advises me, or instructs me, or assigns me new work. The bhikkhus heard that poor tailor complaining, grumbling, lamenting. Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus – ‘‘I allow, bhikkhus, to give new work. The bhikkhu in charge of new work, bhikkhus, will exert himself – ‘How can the monastery quickly be completed?’ He will repair what is broken and dilapidated. And thus, bhikkhus, it should be given. First, the bhikkhu should be asked, having asked, the Sangha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu – 309. ‘‘May the Sangha, venerable sirs, listen to me. If it is suitable for the Sangha, may the Sangha give the new work of the monastery of such-and-such a householder to such-and-such a bhikkhu. This is the motion. ‘‘May the Sangha, venerable sirs, listen to me. The Sangha gives the new work of the monastery of such-and-such a householder to such-and-such a bhikkhu. To whichever venerable one the giving of the new work of the monastery of such-and-such a householder to such-and-such a bhikkhu is agreeable, he should remain silent; to whom it is not agreeable, he should speak. ‘‘The new work of the monastery of such-and-such a householder has been given by the Sangha to such-and-such a bhikkhu. It is agreeable to the Sangha, therefore it is silent, thus I understand it.’’ Permission for the Chief Seat and so on 310. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Vesālī as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Sāvatthī. Now at that time, the resident bhikkhus of the group of six bhikkhus, going ahead of the Sangha with the Buddha at its head, seized monasteries, they seized sleeping places – ‘This will be for our preceptors, this will be for our teachers, this will be for us.’ Then the Venerable Sāriputta, behind the Sangha with the Buddha at its head Going behind, the monasteries were occupied, the lodgings were occupied. Not getting a lodging, he sat at the root of a certain tree. Then the Blessed One, having arisen at dawn, coughed. Venerable Sāriputta also coughed. "Who is here?" "I am, Blessed One, Sāriputta." "Why are you, Sāriputta, sitting here?" Then Venerable Sāriputta