1. There are, O Bhikkhus, these eight grounds 2 for the getting of a gift of
robes--when he gives it to the boundary, when he gives it to (a Samgha which is)
under agreement (with other Samghas), when he gives it on a declaration of alms,
when he gives it to the Samgha, when he gives it to both the Samghas, when he
gives it to the Samgha which has spent the rainy season (at the place), when he
gives it to a specified number 3, when he gives it to a single Bhikkhu.
p. 254
'When he gives it to the boundary, it is to be divided among all those Bhikkhus
who have come within the boundary 1.
'When he gives it to a Samgha which is under agreement, there are a number of
residences which hold in common whatever they get, and what is given in one
residence is given in all.
'When he gives it on a declaration of alms (means when the givers say), "We give
it at the place where constant supply of alms is kept up for the Samgha 2."
'When he gives it to the Samgha, it is to be divided among the Samgha there
present.
'When he gives it to both the Samghas, though there be many Bhikkhus and only
one Bhikkhunî, an equal half is to be given (to each of the two Samghas), and
though there be many Bhikkhunîs and only one Bhikkhu, an equal half is to be
given (to each of the two Samghas).
'When he gives it to the Samgha which has spent the rainy season, it is to be
divided among as many Bhikkhus as have spent the rainy season at that particular
residence.
'When he gives it to a specified number, it is the number present at the giving
of congey, or
p. 255
rice, or hard food, or robes, or bedding, or medicine 1.
'When he gives it to a single Bhikkhu, he says, "I give a set of robes to such
and such a one."'
__________________
p. 256
NINTH KHANDHAKA.
(VALIDITY AND INVALIDITY OF FORMAL ACTS OF THE SAMGHA.)
1.
1. At that time the blessed Buddha dwelt at Kampâ, on the brink of the
lotus-pond Gaggarâ. At that time there was in the country of Kâsi (a village)
called Vâsabha-gâma. There a Bhikkhu called Kassapa-gotta had his residence, who
was bound (to that place) by the string (of the religious duties which he had to
perform there 1), and who exerted himself to the end that clever Bhikkhus from a
distance might come to that place, and the clever Bhikkhus therein might live at
ease, and that (religious life at that residence might progress, advance, and
reach a high state.
Now at that time a number of Bhikkhus, making their pilgrimage in the country of
Kâsi, came to Vâsabha-gâma. And the Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta saw those Bhikkhus
coming from afar; when he saw them, he prepared seats for them, brought water
for the washing of their feet, a foot-stool, and a towel 2.
Then he went forth to meet them, took their bowls and their robes, offered them
(water) to drink, and provided a bath for them, and provided also rice-milk and
food hard and soft.
p. 257
Now those stranger Bhikkhus thought: 'The resident Bhikkhu here, O friends, is
indeed good-natured; he provides a bath for us and provides also rice-milk, and
food, hard and soft. What if we were to stay here, friends, at Vâsabha-gâma.'
Thus those stranger Bhikkhus stayed there at Vâsabha-gâma.
2. Now the Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta thought: 'These stranger Bhikkhus are rested
now from their travel-weariness; they did not know their way here before, but
now they know their way. It is trouble-some indeed to be busy all one's life for
people not related to one's self, and being asked 1 is disagreeable to men. What
if I were to provide no longer rice-milk, and food, hard and soft (for those
Bhikkhus).' Thus he did not provide any more (for them) rice-milk, and food,
hard and soft.
Then those stranger Bhikkhus thought: 'Formerly, friends, this resident Bhikkhu
used to provide baths for us, and to provide also rice-milk, and food, hard and
soft. But now he does not provide any more rice-milk, and food, hard and soft.
This resident Bhikkhu, friends, is in anger with us now. Well, friends, let us
pronounce expulsion against this resident Bhikkhu.'
3. Then those stranger Bhikkhus assembled and said to the Bhikkhu'
Kassapa-gotta: 'Formerly, friend, you used to provide baths for us and to
provide also rice-milk, and food, hard and soft. But now you do not provide any
more rice-milk, and food, hard and soft. You have committed an offence, friend;
do you see that offence?'
p. 258
'There is no offence, friends, for me to see.'
Then those stranger Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against the Bhikkhu
Kassapa-gotta for his refusal to see that (pretended) offence. Then the Bhikkhu
Kassapa-gotta thought: 'I do not know indeed whether this is an offence or not,
and whether I have made myself guilty of an offence or not, and whether I have
been expelled or not, and whether that sentence is lawful or unlawful,
objectionable or unobjectionable, valid or invalid. What if I were to go to
Kampâ and to ask the Blessed One about this matter?'
4. And the Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta put his resting-place in order, took up his
alms-bowl and his robe, and went forth to Kampâ; and in due course he came to
Kampâ and to the place where the Blessed One was. Having approached him and
respectfully saluted the Blessed One, he sat down near him.
Now it is the custom of the blessed Buddhas to exchange greeting with incoming
Bhikkhus. And the Blessed One said to the Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta: 'Is it all well
with you, O Bhikkhu? Do you find your living? Have you made your journey without
too much fatigue? And from what plate do you come, O Bhikkhu?'
'It is all well, Lord; I find my living, Lord; I have made the journey, Lord,
without too much fatigue:
5. 'There is in the country of Kâsi, Lord, (a village) called Vâsabha-gâma.
There I had my residence, Lord, (&c. 1, down to:) Then those
p. 259
stranger Bhikkhus, Lord, pronounced against me expulsion for my refusal to see
that offence. Then I thought, Lord: "I do not know indeed whether this is an
offence or not, and whether I have made myself guilty of an offence or not, and
whether I have been expelled or not, and whether that sentence is lawful or
unlawful, objectionable or unobjectionable, valid or invalid. What if I were to
go to Kampâ and to ask the Blessed One about this matter." Thus I have come
here, Lord.'
6. (Buddha replied): 'This is no offence, O Bhikkhu; it is not an offence. You
are innocent; you are not guilty of an offence. You are not expelled, and have
not been expelled; the sentence by which you have been expelled is unlawful,
objectionable, and invalid. Go, O Bhikkhu, and settle yourself again at
Vâsabha-gâma.'
The Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta expressed his assent to the Blessed One (by saying),
'Yes, Lord,' rose from his seat, and having respectfully saluted the Blessed One
and walked round him with his right side towards him, he went on his way to
Vâsabha-gâma.
7. Now those stranger Bhikkhus (at Vâsabha-gâma) were overcome by scruples and
remorse:
It is all loss to us indeed, it is no gain to us; we will fare ill indeed, we
will not fare well, in this that we have expelled that pure, guiltless Bhikkhu
without any cause and reason. Well, friends, let us go to Kampâ and let us
confess there in the Blessed One's presence our sin in its sinfulness.'
p. 260
And those stranger Bhikkhus put their resting-places in order, took up their
alms-bowls and their robes, and went forth to Kampâ, and in due course they came
to Kampâ and to the place where the Blessed One was. Having approached him and
respectfully saluted the Blessed One, they sat down near him. Now it is the
custom of the blessed Buddhas (&c. 1, down to:) 'It is all well, Lord; we find
our living, Lord; we have made the journey, Lord, without too much fatigue.
There is in the country of Kâsi, Lord, (a village) called Vâsabha-gâma; from
that place we come, Lord.'
8. 'So are you, O Bhikkhus, those who have expelled the resident Bhikkhu there?'
'We are, Lord.'
'For what cause, O Bhikkhus, and for what reason?'
'Without any cause and reason, Lord.'
Then the Blessed One rebuked those Bhikkhus: 'That is improper, O Bhikkhus, it
is unbecoming, indecent, unworthy of Samanas, unallowable, and to be avoided.
How can you, O fools, expel a pure and guiltless Bhikkhu, without any cause and
reason? This will not do, O Bhikkhus, for converting the unconverted.' Having
thus rebuked them and delivered a religious discourse, he thus addressed the
Bhikkhus: 'Let no one, O Bhikkhus, expel a pure and guiltless Bhikkhu without
cause and reason. He who does, commits a dukkata offence.'
9. Then those Bhikkhus rose from their seats, adjusted their upper robes so as
to cover one
p. 261
shoulder, prostrated themselves, inclining their heads to the feet of the
Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: 'Transgression, O Lord, has overcome
us like the foolish, like the erring, like the unhappy, in this that we have
expelled a pure, guiltless Bhikkhu without any cause and reason. May, O Lord,
the Blessed One accept (the confession of) our sin in its sinfulness, and we
will refrain from it in future.'
'Truly, O Bhikkhus, transgression has overcome you like the foolish, like the
erring, like the unhappy, in that you have expelled a pure, guiltless Bhikkhu
without any cause and reason. But as you see, O Bhikkhus, your sin in its
sinfulness, and duly make amends for it, we accept it from you. For this, O
Bhikkhus, is called progress in the discipline of the noble one, if one sees his
sin in its sinfulness, and duly makes amends for it, and refrains from it in
future.'
Footnotes
253:2 Mâtikâ; used in the same sense here as at VII, 1, 7.
253:3 That is, of monks and nuns--the Bhikkhu--samgha and the Bhikkhunî-samgha.
254:1 See chapters II, 6 and following.
254:2 Buddhaghosa says, Bhikkhâ-paññattiyâ, ti attano
parikkâgapañña-paññapana-tthâne. Ten’ ev’ âha yattha samghassa dhuvakârâ
kariyantî ti. Tass’ attho, yasmim vihâre imassa kîvara-dâyakassa santakam
samghassa pâkavattam vâ vattati, yasmim vâ vihâre bhikkhû attano bhâram katvâ
sadâ gehe bhogesi. Yattha vârena âvâso vâ kârito, salâkabhattâdîni vâ
nibaddhâni, yena pana sakalo pi vihâro patitthâpito, tattha vattabbam eva n’
atthi ime dhuvakârâ nâma.
255:1 That is, he invites a number of Bhikkhus to partake of yâgu, and when the
yâgu is served he says, 'I give robes to those who have partaken of the yâgu,'
and so on in all the other cases except that of robes. In that case he says, 'I
give robes to those who have previously received robes from me' (B.).
256:1 Tanti-baddha. Buddhaghosa says, Tanti-baddho ’ti tasmim âvâse
kâtabbatâ-tanti-patibaddho.
256:2 See our note at I, 6, 11.
257:1 As he was obliged to ask the people of Vâsabha-gâma for what the stranger
Bhikkhus wanted.
258:1 See §§ 1-3. Instead of 'the Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta' the p. 259 pronoun of
the first person is to be read; and the appellation 'Lord,' addressed to Buddha,
is inserted several times.
260:1 See § 4. The alterations to be made ('those Bhikkhus' instead of 'the
Bhikkhu Kassapa-gotta,' &c.) are obvious.
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