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reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, having assembled the community of bhikkhus, questioned the bhikkhus: "Is it true, bhikkhus, that the resident bhikkhus of the group-of-six going ahead, ahead of the Sangha led by the Buddha, occupy the monasteries, occupy the lodgings, saying: 'This will be for our preceptors, this will be for our teachers, this will be for us'?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked... ... "How can these foolish men, bhikkhus, going ahead, ahead of the Sangha led by the Buddha, occupy the monasteries, occupy the lodgings, saying: 'This will be for our preceptors, this will be for our teachers, this will be for us'!" "This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence... ..." Having rebuked... ... Having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Who, bhikkhus, is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood?" Some bhikkhus said thus: "He, Blessed One, who has gone forth from a warrior family, he is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood." Some bhikkhus said thus: "He, Blessed One, who has gone forth from a brahmin family, he is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood." Some bhikkhus said thus: "He, Blessed One, who has gone forth from a householder family, he is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost almsfood." Some bhikkhus said thus: "He, Blessed One, who is a reciter of suttas, he is worthy of the foremost seat, the foremost water..." the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a master of discipline, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a Dhamma speaker, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a recipient of the first jhana, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a recipient of the second jhana, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a recipient of the third jhana, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a recipient of the fourth jhana, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a stream-enterer, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever is a once-returner… whoever is a non-returner… whoever is an Arahant, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever has the three knowledges, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” Some monks said: “Venerable sir, whoever has the six supernormal powers, he deserves the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood.” 311. Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: “Formerly, monks, in the Himalayan region, there was a great banyan tree. Three companions lived near it: a partridge, a monkey, and an elephant. They lived without respect for each other, without deference, without harmonious conduct. Then, monks, it occurred to those companions: ‘Oh, if only we knew who among us is greater by birth, him we would honor, him we would respect, him we would revere, him we would worship, and we would stand by his advice.’” Yes. Then, monks, the partridge and the monkey asked the elephant: "Friend, what do you remember from old times?" "Friend, when I was a young one, I would pass over this banyan tree, making it between my thighs. Its topmost shoot would touch my belly. This, friend, is what I remember from old times." Then, monks, the partridge and the elephant asked the monkey: "Friend, what do you remember from old times?" "Friend, when I was a young one, I would sit on the ground and eat the topmost shoot of this banyan tree. This, friend, is what I remember from old times." Then, monks, the monkey and the elephant asked the partridge: "Friend, what do you remember from old times?" "Friend, in a certain place, there was a great banyan tree. From there, I ate a fruit, and I defecated in this place. From that, this banyan tree grew. Therefore, friend, I am older by birth." Then, monks, the monkey and the elephant said to the partridge: "Friend, you are older than us by birth. We will honor you, we will respect you, we will revere you, we will worship you, and we will abide by your advice." Then, monks, the partridge exhorted the monkey and the elephant in the five precepts, and he himself undertook and practiced the five precepts. They, dwelling with mutual respect, reverence, and harmonious conduct, after the breaking up of the body, beyond death, were reborn in a good destination, the heavenly world. Thus, monks, that was the holy life called 'Partridge.' Those who revere the elders, men skilled in the Dhamma, are praised in this present life, and in the future, they go to a good destination. Indeed, monks, even those animal beings dwelt with mutual respect, reverence, and harmonious conduct. Here, monks, it would be fitting, that you, in such a well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline... Having gone forth, would you dwell without respect for each other, without deference, without harmonious conduct? This, monks, is not for the conversion of the unconverted... (etc.) ... having censured... (etc.) ... having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: "I allow, monks, according to seniority: salutation, rising up, the gesture of respect, proper conduct, the best seat, the best water, the best almsfood. And, monks, what belongs to the Sangha should not be denied according to seniority. Whoever denies it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Persons Not to be Saluted 312. "These ten, monks, are not to be saluted: one ordained later (by one ordained earlier) is not to be saluted, one not fully ordained is not to be saluted, an elder of a different communion who speaks against the Dhamma is not to be saluted, a woman is not to be saluted, a eunuch is not to be saluted, one undergoing probation is not to be saluted, one deserving of being sent back to the beginning (of probation) is not to be saluted, one deserving of 'mānatta' (penance) is not to be saluted, one undergoing 'mānatta' is not to be saluted, one deserving of rehabilitation is not to be saluted. These ten, monks, are not to be saluted. "These three, monks, are to be saluted: one ordained earlier (by one ordained later) is to be saluted, an elder of a different communion who speaks the Dhamma is to be saluted, in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with its recluses and brahmins, with its devas and humans, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, is to be saluted. These three, monks, are to be saluted." Prohibition of Denying Seats 313. Now at that time, people prepared pavilions for the Sangha, prepared mats, prepared spaces. The disciples of the group of six monks (thought): 'Only what belongs to the Sangha has been allowed by the Blessed One according to seniority, not what is specifically designated (for individuals).' So, going ahead of the Sangha led by the Buddha, they seized the pavilions, they seized the mats, they seized the spaces – 'This will be for our preceptors, this will be for our teachers, this will be for us!' Then indeed, Venerable Sāriputta, (seeing) the Sangha led by the Buddha Following behind, when the pavilions were taken, when the mats were taken, when the places were taken, not getting a place, he sat at the root of a certain tree. Then indeed the Blessed One, having risen in the early morning, coughed. The Venerable Sāriputta also coughed. "Who is here?" "I am, Blessed One, Sāriputta." "Why are you, Sāriputta, sitting here?" Then indeed the Venerable Sāriputta reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then indeed the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, having assembled the community of bhikkhus, questioned the bhikkhus – "Is it true, bhikkhus, that the resident pupils of the group of six bhikkhus, saying, 'Only what belongs to the Sangha has been allowed by the Blessed One according to seniority, not what is specifically designated,' going ahead, ahead of the Sangha with the Buddha at its head, seize the pavilions, seize the mats, seize the places – 'This will be for our preceptors, this will be for our teachers, this will be for us'?" "It is true, Blessed One." ...having rebuked... ...having given a discourse on Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus – "Bhikkhus, even what is specifically designated should not be prevented according to seniority. Whoever should prevent it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Permission for household furnishings 314. Now at that time, people in the dining hall, inside the house, arranged high and grand couches, namely – a long-legged chair, a sofa, a woollen rug with long fleece, a variegated woollen rug, a white woollen rug, a woollen rug with flowers, a cotton mattress, an embroidered woollen rug, a woollen rug with long hair on both sides, a woollen rug with long hair on one side, a silk rug, a silk blanket, a dance-mat, an elephant-rug, a horse-rug, a chariot-rug, an antelope-skin rug, a rug of the best kadali deer skin, with a canopy, and red pillows at both ends. The bhikkhus, feeling scrupulous, did not sit down. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, bhikkhus, household furnishings, excluding three – the long-legged chair, the sofa, the cotton mattress." to sit on a layperson's seat, but not to lie down on it." Now at that time, people in the dining hall inside their houses would spread out cushioned beds and chairs. The bhikkhus, feeling scruples, would not sit on them. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, bhikkhus, to sit on a layperson's seat,