TWELFTH KHANDHAKA.
ON THE COUNCIL OF VESÂLÎ.
1.
1. Now at that time, a century 1 after the death of the Blessed One, the
Bhikkhus of Vesâlî, Vaggians, promulgated at Vesâlî the ten theses:--(1) that
storing salt in a horn vessel was permissible; (2) that the midday meal might be
eaten when the sun's shadow showed two finger breadths after noon; (3) that he
who intends to go into the village could begin to eat again after he had once
left off; (4) that a number of Bhikkhus residing within the same boundary might
hold Uposatha separately; (5) that a Samgha not at unity within itself might
carry out an official act, undertaking to inform Bhikkhus of it; (6) that it was
permissible for a Bhikkhu to do anything adopted as a practice by his Upagghâya;
(7) that curds might be eaten by one who had already finished his midday meal;
(8) that it was permissible to drink unfermented toddy; (9) that a rug or mat
need not be of the limited size prescribed if it had no fringe; (10) that it was
permissible to receive gold and silver 2.
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Now at that time the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, who was wandering
through the Vaggian country, arrived at Vesâlî; and there the venerable Yasa
stayed at the Mahâvana, in the Kûtâgâra Hall.
Now at that time the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî, on Uposatha day, filled a
copper pot with water and placed it in the midst of the Bhikkhu-samgha, and said
to such of their Vesâlian lay disciples as came there: 'Give, Sirs, to the
Samgha a kahâpana 1, or half a one, or a pâda, or a mâsaka. It will be wanted
for the Samgha, for the provision of various utensils.'
When they had thus spoken, the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, said to the
lay disciples: 'Do, Sirs, nothing of the kind. The use of gold and silver is not
allowed to the Sakyaputtiya Samanas. The Sakyaputtiya Samanas neither allow it
to be given to them, nor take charge of it. The Sakyaputtiya Samanas are men
whose gems and jewelry have been laid aside, and who are without silver and
without gold.'
Though the lay disciples from Vesâlî had been thus addressed by the venerable
Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, they gave money to the Samgha. And the Vaggian
Bhikkhus of Vesâlî, at the close of the night, reserving one portion 2, divided
that money according to the number of the Bhikkhus. And they said to the
venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka:
'This, friend Yasa, is thy due portion of the money.'
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'I have no due portion in that money. I do not allow any money to be given to
me.'
2. Then the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî said one to another: 'This brother, Yasa,
the son of Kâkandaka, upbraids and reviles, and renders dissatisfied believing
and faithful followers. Come, let us carry out against him the Act of
Reconciliation 1.' And they did so.
Then the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, said to them: 'It has been laid
down, Sirs, by the Blessed One, that a companion shall be appointed to go as
messenger with a Bhikkhu against whom the Act of Reconciliation has been carried
out 2. Appoint, Sirs, a Bhikkhu, as companion messenger to me.' And the Vaggian
Bhikkhus of Vesâlî deputed a Bhikkhu to that work, and gave him as a companion
messenger to the venerable Yasa.
And the venerable Yasa, taking the companion Bhikkhu with him, entered into
Vesâlî, and said to the believing laymen there:
'I am said, Sirs, to be upbraiding and reviling, and rendering dissatisfied
believing and faithful followers, thereby that I have said what is against the
Dhamma to be against the Dhamma, and what is Dhamma to be Dhamma, and what is
against the Vinaya to be against the Vinaya, and what is Vinaya to be Vinaya.
3. 'Now the Blessed One was once, Sirs, staying at Sâvatthi in the Getavana,
Anâtha Pindika's pleasure-ground. And there, Sirs, the Blessed One exhorted the
Bhikkhus, and said:
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'"There are, O Bhikkhus, four obstructions of the sun and moon, by which when
the sun and moon are affected, they give no heat and they give no light, and
they are no longer glorious. And what are the four? They are clouds and fog and
dusty smoke and Râhu 1, by which when the sun and the moon are affected they
give neither heat nor light nor sheen. Just so, O Bhikkhus, there are four
stains by which when Samanas and Brâhmans are affected they give neither heat
nor light nor sheen. And what are the four? There are some Samanas and Brâhmans
who drink strong drink, and things intoxicating, abstaining not therefrom 2.
This is the first of such stains. And further, O Bhikkhus, there are some
Samanas and Brâhmans who practise sexual intercourse, and abstain not therefrom.
This is the second of such stains. And further, O Bhikkhus, there are some
Samanas and Brâhmans who accept silver and gold, abstaining not from the use
thereof. This is the third of such stains. And lastly, O Bhikkhus, there are
some Samanas and Brâhmans who gain their livelihood by low arts 3, abstaining
not from such means of life. This is the fourth of such stains."
'Thus spoke, Sirs, the Blessed One: and when the Happy One had thus spoken, the
Master further said:
'"Stained by lust and malice, some Samanas and Brâhmans, p. 390
Men blinded by ignorance, praise things that seem to have delight.
Strong drink they drink and fierce, indulge in sensual acts,
Devoid of wisdom, silver and gold they take.
And by low arts some Samanas and Brâhmans live.
Stains are such actions called by the Buddha of the Solar race,
Stains--by which defiled some Samanas and Brâhmans,
Impure brutes and unclean, give neither heat nor light.
Covered rather by darkness, purblind, enslaved by craving lusts,
They enlarge the realm of death 1, and dread rebirth they gain."
'It is for upholding this opinion that I, Sirs, have been said to be upbraiding
and reviling and rendering dissatisfied believing and faithful followers, in
that I have said what is against the Dhamma to be against the Dhamma, and what
is Dhamma to be Dhamma; what is against the Vinaya to be against the Vinaya, and
what is Vinaya to be Vinaya.
4. 'And once the Blessed One was staying, Sirs, at Râgagaha, in the Veluvana, at
the Kalandaka Nivâpa. Now at that time among the royal attendants sitting
together in the women's apartment in the palace, the following saying was heard:
"Silver and gold is allowed to the Sakyaputtiya Samanas.
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[paragraph continues] The Sakyaputtiya Samanas accept it, and take it in
charge." Now at that time Manikûlaka, a village headman, was present. And he
said to the people there: "Say not so, Sirs. Neither is silver and gold allowed
to the Sakyaputtiya Samanas, nor do they accept it, nor take it in charge. The
Sakyaputtiya Samanas are men who have laid aside gems and jewelry, and are
without silver, and without gold." And the headman, Manikûlaka, succeeded in
satisfying them.
'Then the headman, Manikûlaka, went to the place where the Blessed One was and
saluted him, and took his seat on one side. And he told the Blessed One the
whole matter 1, and said:
'"Now am I, Lord, in maintaining as I did, one who speaks according to the word
of the Blessed One, one who does not falsely represent the Blessed One, one who
does not put forth minor matters in the place of the true Dhamma? And is there
anything that leads to blame in such discussion, this way and that, as touching
the observance of the rules of the order 2?"
'"Most certainly, Manikûlaka, in maintaining thus you speak in accordance with
my word, and do not represent me falsely, nor put forth minor matters as the
true Dhamma. Nor is there any thing leading to blame in such discussions. For
gold and silver is not allowed, Manikûlaka, to the Sakyaputtiya Samanas, nor
ought they to accept it, nor take it in charge. Men who have laid aside gems and
jewelry are the Sakyaputtiya Samanas,
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men without silver and without gold. For to whomsoever, Manikûlaka, gold and
silver are allowed, to him also the five kinds of sensual pleasure 1 are
allowed. And to whomsoever these five kinds of pleasure are allowed, him you may
know of a certainty to be following neither the rule of the Samanas, nor the
rule of the sons of Sâkya. Although, Manikûlaka, I have said that he who is in
need of grass may seek for grass, and he who is in need of wood may seek for
wood, and he who is in need of a conveyance may seek for a conveyance, and he
who is in need of a servant may seek for a servant; yet have I never said in any
way whatever that gold or silver may be sought after or accepted."
'It is for maintaining this opinion that I, Sirs, have been said to be
upbraiding and reviling and rendering dissatisfied believing and faithful
followers, in that I have said what is against the Dhamma to be against the
Dhamma, and what is Dhamma to be Dhamma; that what is against the Vinaya is
against the Vinaya, and what is Vinaya is Vinaya.'
5. 'And once, Sirs, the Blessed One at the same place, at Râgagaha, on the
occasion of the matter of Upananda, the Sâkyan, distinctly laid down a precept
by which gold and silver were forbidden 2.
'It is for maintaining this opinion that I, Sirs, have been said to be
upbraiding and reviling and rendering dissatisfied believing and faithful
followers, in that I have said what is against the
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[paragraph continues] Dhamma to be against the Dhamma, and what is Dhamma to be
Dhamma; that what is against the Vinaya is against the Vinaya, and what is
Vinaya is Vinaya.'
6. When he had thus spoken, the lay brethren said to Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka
There is but one, Sirs 1, who is a Sakyaputtiya Samana, our master, Yasa, the
son of Kâkandaka. All the rest are no Samanas, neither Sakyaputtiyas. Let the
venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, dwell among us. We will exert ourselves to
provide him with robes, and food, and medicine, and the necessaries for the
sick.'
Then the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, having gained over the lay
brethren, returned with the companion Bhikkhu to the Ârâma,
7. And the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî asked the companion Bhikkhu: 'Did Yasa,
the son of Kâkandaka, obtain, Sir, the forgiveness of the lay brethren?'
'Evil, Sirs, hath been wrought against us. Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, and he
alone has been decided to be a Sakyaputtiya Samana, and all of us neither
Samanas nor Sakyaputtiyas.'
Then the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî said: 'The venerable Yasa, the son of
Kâkandaka, without being deputed by us, has proclaimed to laymen (a false
doctrine) 2. Come, let us carry out the Act of Suspension 3 against him.' And
p. 394
they assembled together with the intention of doing so.
But the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, rose up into the sky and descended
at Kosambî. And he sent messengers to the Bhikkhus of the Western country, and
of Avanti, and of the Southern country 1, saying, 'Let your reverences come! We
must take in charge this legal question before what is not Dhamma is spread
abroad, and what is Dhamma is put aside; before what is not Vinaya is spread
abroad, and what is Vinaya is put aside; before those who argue against the
Dhamma become powerful, and those who argue in favour of the Dhamma become weak;
before those who argue against the Vinaya become powerful, and those who argue
in favour of the Vinaya become weak.'
8. Now at that time the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî 2 was dwelling on the
Ahogaṅga Hill 3. And thither the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, went; and
on his arrival he saluted the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî, and took his seat on
one side: and being so seated he said to him:
'Lord, these Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî have
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put forward ten theses.' And he told him what they were 1, and added: 'Come now,
Lord, let us take in charge this last question before what is not Dhamma is
spread abroad, and what is Dhamma is put aside; before what is not Vinaya is
spread abroad, and what is Vinaya is put aside; before those who argue against
the Dhamma become powerful, and those who argue in favour of the Dhamma become
weak; before those who argue against the Vinaya become powerful, and those who
argue in favour of the Vinaya become weak.'
'Even so, Lord,' said the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî, in assent to the
venerable Yasa Kâkandaka-putta.
Then about sixty Bhikkhus from the Western country, all of whom were hermits,
all of whom lived only on alms, all of whom dressed only in cast-off clothes,
and kept only three robes, and all of whom were Arahats, assembled together at
the Ahogaṅga Hill. And about eighty-eight from Avanti and the Southern country,
some of whom were hermits, and some of whom, lived only on alms, and some of
whom dressed only in cast-off clothes, and some of whom kept only three robes,
but all of whom were Arahats, met together with them on the Ahogaṅga Hill.
9. And the Thera Bhikkhus, consulting together, came to this conclusion: 'This
legal question, now, is hard and subtle. How can we obtain such support that we
may have the greater power at the decision thereof 2?'
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Now at that time the venerable Revata was dwelling at Soreyya, and he was wise
in the traditions, one who had learned the Agamas (the four Nikâyas), and knew
by heart the Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Mâtikâs; intelligent, discreet, and
wise, modest, conscientious, devoted to the precepts 1. And the Thera Bhikkhus
thought that if they could gain him over to their side, they would attain their
end.
And the venerable Revata, by the divine ear, clear and surpassing that of men,
heard the Thera Bhikkhus as they were thus consulting together; and he thought:
'This legal question is both hard and subtle, it would not become me to hold
back therefrom. But even now those Bhikkhus (the Vaggians) will be coming. It
would be unpleasant travelling for me were I to fall in with them. Let me go on
before them.'
So the venerable Revata went from Soreyya to Samkassa. And when the Thera
Bhikkhus went to Soreyya, and asked: 'Where is the venerable Revata?' they said:
'He is gone to Samkassa.'
Now the venerable Revata had gone on from Samkassa to Kannakugga. And when the
Thera Bhikkhus came to Samkassa, and asked: 'Where is the venerable Revata?'
they said: 'He is gone on to Kannakugga.' And in the same way they followed him
thither, and to Udumbara, and to Aggalapura, and to Sahagâti, and there they met
with the venerable Revata.
10. And the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî said to the venerable Yasa, the son of
Kâkandaka:
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'Friend, the brother Revata is wise in the traditions, has learnt the Agamas,
knows by heart the Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Mâtikâs, he is intelligent,
discreet, and wise, modest, conscientious, and devoted to the precepts. If we
ask the venerable Revata a puzzling question, he is capable of spending the
whole night on that one question. And even now the venerable Revata will call
upon a Bhikkhu who is an intoner 1, and a pupil of his. Do you, therefore, when
the Bhikkhu has concluded, go to the venerable Revata and ask him concerning
these ten theses (points).'
'Even so, Sir,' said the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, in assent to the
venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî.
And the venerable Revata called upon the Bhikkhu, the pupil of his, the intoner.
And when the Bhikkhu had concluded, the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka,
went to the venerable Revata, and saluted him, and took his seat beside him.
And, so seated, he said to the venerable Revata 2:
'Is the horn-salt-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this horn-salt-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, to carry about salt in a horn with the intention of
putting it into food which has not been salted?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is the two-inch-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this two-inch-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, to eat the midday meal
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beyond the right time, provided only that the shadow has not yet turned two
inches?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is the village-trip-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this village-trip-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, for one who has once finished his meal, and refused any
more, to eat food which has not been left over, on the ground that he is about
to proceed into the village?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is the circuit-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this circuit-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, for a number of Bhikkhus who dwell within the same
circuit, within the same boundary, to hold separate Uposathas?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is the indemnity-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this indemnity-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, for a Samgha, which is not legally constituted 1, to
perform an official act on the ground that they will afterwards obtain the
sanction of such Bhikkhus who may subsequently arrive?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is the precedent-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this precedent-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, to do a thing on the ground that, "My preceptor
(upagghâya) has practised this; or my teacher (âkariya) has practised that?"'
'In some cases, Sir, this is allowable, and in some not 2.'
p. 399
'Is the churn-license, Lord, allowable?'
'What, Sir, is this churn-license?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, for one who has once finished his meal, and has refused
any more, to drink milk not left over from the meal, on the ground that it has
left the condition of milk, and has not yet reached the condition of curds 1?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is it allowable, Lord, to drink toddy?'
'What, Sir, is this toddy?'
'Is it allowable, Lord, to drink spirits which have left the condition of not
being spirits, and yet have not acquired intoxicating properties 2?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable?'
'Is a rug or mat (when it is beyond the prescribed size) lawful, Lord, because
it is unfringed?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
'Is gold and silver, Lord, allowable?'
'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'
These are the ten theses, Lord, which these Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî have put
forth. Come, Lord, let us take this legal question in hand before that which is
not Dhamma is spread abroad, and that which is Dhamma is put aside; before that
which is not Vinaya is spread abroad, and that which is Vinaya is put aside;
before those who argue against the Dhamma become powerful, and those
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who argue in favour of the Dhamma become weak; before those who argue against
the Vinaya become powerful, and those who argue in favour of the Vinaya become
weak.'
'Even so, Sir,' said the venerable Revata, in assent to the venerable Yasa, the
son of Kâkandaka.
________________________
Here ends the First Portion for Recitation.
Footnotes
386:1 As pointed out at xxii of our Introduction, we believe this number ought
not to be taken too literally, but to be considered a round number.
386:2 The above terms are explained below, §§ 1, 10, and 2, 8.
387:1 About a penny; on this and the following terms, see Rh. D.'s 'Ancient
Coins and Measures, &c.,' p. S.
387:2 Pativiso. See Mahâvagga VIII, 27, 4.
388:1 Patisâraniya-kamma. See Kullavagga I, 18.
388:2 On Anudûta, see Kullavagga I, 20-22.
389:1 That is, eclipse.
389:2 It is curious that this matter is not, like all the following, referred to
in the Sîlas. See Rh. D.'s 'Buddhist Suttas,' p. 190.
389:3 Those, namely, which are set out in the Mahâ Sîla (Rh. D.'s Buddhist
Suttas,' pp. 196-203).
390:1 That is, by being repeatedly reborn they continually die. Vaddhenti
katasin ti punappunam kalevara-nikkhipamâna-bhûmim vaddhenti, says Buddhaghosa.
The word occurs at Gâtaka I, 146.
391:1 The whole is repeated in the text.
391:2 The whole of this speech recurs, nearly word for word, in the Mahâvagga
VI, 31, 4.
392:1 Compare Kullavagga VII, 1, 2.
392:2 This is set out in full in the Sutta Vibhaṅga in the Introduction to the
18th Nissaggiya Pâkittiya,
393:1 They are speaking to Yasa and the anudûta.
393:2 This cannot refer to the 9th Pâkittiya, which only speaks of making known
grievous offences. Aṅguttara II, 5, 2 refers to laymen as well as to sâmaneras.
393:3 Ukkhepaniya-kamma. See Kullavagga I, 25.
394:1 On these terms, compare note on Mahâvagga VII, 1, 1.
394:2 Sânavâsî is, literally, he who wears a hempen dress. In the traditions of
the Sanskrit Buddhist literature we find mentioned a Sânavâsika, said to be a
predecessor, in the teacher and pupil line, of Upagupta (Wassilief, p. 44). The
Nepalese call him Sonavâsî (Rajendralâl Mitra, 'Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of
Nepâl,' p. 10). He is the hero of the Sânavâsi Avadâna part of the Bodhisatva
Avadâna Kalpalatâ (Mitra, p. 67, Bendall 'Catalogue of Cambridge MSS.,' p. 42),
where the name is explained: 'I wished for an ochre-coloured robe (sona); hence
I was called Sânavâsi.'
394:3 See, for the position of this mountain, our note last quoted.
395:1 In the text the full words of I, 1 are here repeated.
395:2 Compare below, XII, 2, I.
396:1 These adjectives have occurred above at Mahâvagga X, I, 2, and Kullavagga
I, 11, 1.
397:1 Sarabhânakam. See our note above at Kullavagga V, 3, 2.
397:2 The whole of the following questions and answers recur below at XII, 2, 8,
where the reasons of the answers also appear.
398:1 Vaggena. See our note on the 21st Pâkittiya, and Kullavagga V, 2, 1.
398:2 That is, of course, according as the thing enjoined is, or is not, p. 399
lawful. Ekakko kappatî ti idam dhammikam âkinnam sandhâya vuttam, says
Buddhaghosa.
399:1 That is, which is neither liquid nor solid: something apparently like
buttermilk.
399:2 It is a question constantly arising under the excise laws in India and
Ceylon, whether the liquor in the case has become arrack, or is only arrack in
the making, and unfermented. This last is called unfermented toddy.
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