Chulavagga 9.3

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Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

NINTH KHANDHAKA (ON EXCLUSION FROM THE PATIMOKKHA CEREMONY)

Chapter-3.

1. Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus thinking, 'No one knows that we are guilty' listened to the Patimokkha. The Thera Bhikkhus, who understood the thoughts of other men, told the Bhikkhus, saying, 'Such and such a one, Sirs, and such and such a one, Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus, thinking, "No one knows that we are guilty," are listening to the Patimokkha.'

When the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus heard that, they, thinking 'the good Bhikkhus will (otherwise) first interdict the Patimokkha to us,' interdicted the Patimokkha to the Bhikkhus who were pure and innocent before (they had time to do so to them), and this without ground and without cause.

Those Bhikkhus who were moderate murmured, &c (as usual, down to) told the matter to the Lord Buddha.

'Is it true, O Bhikkhus, that the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus have [acted thus]?'

'It is true, Lord!'

Then he rebuked them, and when he had delivered a dhamma discourse, he said: 'The Patimokkha is not, O Bhikkhus, to be interdicted to pure and innocent Bhikkhus without ground and without cause. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.

2. 'There is one kind of inhibition of the Patimokkha, O Bhikkhus, which is illegal, and one

which is legal. There are two. . . ., three. . . ., four (&c., up to) ten kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal, and one, two (&c., up to) ten which are legal.

3. 'Which is the one kind of inhibition of the Patimokkha which is illegal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for a breach of morality without ground. This is the one kind, &c.

'And which is the one kind of inhibition of the Patimokkha which is legal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for a breach of morality with good ground. This is the one kind, &c.

'And which are the two kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for a breach of morality, or for an offence against conduct, and each of them without ground. These are the two kinds, &c.

'And which are the two kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are legal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for a breach of morality, and for an offence against conduct, and each of them with good ground. These are the two kinds, &c

'And which are the three kinds, &c.? [as the last two, adding "offence against doctrine."]

'And which are the four kinds, &c.? [as the last, adding "offence against the right mode of livelihood."]

'And which are the five kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for a Parajika, or for a Sanghadisesa, or for a Pachittiya, or for a Patidesaniya, or for a Dukkata, and each of them without ground. These are the five kinds, &c.

'And which are the five kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are legal? [Same as the last, "with good ground."]

'And which are the six kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for an offence against morality. . . . conduct. . . . doctrine. . . . without ground, the offence being one of omission--when one inhibits the Patimokkha for an offence against morality. . . . conduct. . . . doctrine. . . . without ground, the offence being one of commission. These are the six, &c.

'And which are the six kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are legal? [Same as the last, "with good ground."]

'And which are the seven kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal? When one inhibits the Patimokkha for a Parajika, or for a Sanghadisesa, or for a thulakaya(big/grave offence), or for a Pachittiya, or for a Patidesaniya, or for a Dukkata, or for a Dubbhasita, and each of them without ground. These are the seven kinds, &c.

'And which are the seven kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are legal? [Same as the last, "with good ground."]

'And which are the eight kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal? [The same as the six, adding "offence against the right means of livelihood."]

'And which are the nine kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal. . . . legal? [The same as the six, adding for each kind of offence, "the offence being one both of omission and of commission."]

'And which are the ten kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are illegal? When (a Bhikkhu) who has been guilty of a Parajika is not seated in that assembly,--when no discussion is still going on (in the assembly) as to a Parajika offence (supposed to have been committed by a Bhikkhu then present),--when (a Bhikkhu) who has abandoned the precepts is not seated in that assembly,--when no discussion is still going on (in the assembly) in respect of (a Bhikkhu then present having been charged with) abandoning the precepts,--when (the person charged) submits himself to the legally prescribed concord (of the assembly),--when (the person charged) does not withdraw his acceptance of the legally prescribed concord (of the assembly),--when no discussion is still going on (in the assembly) in respect of the withdrawal of (any member's) acceptance of the legally (prescribed) concord (of the assembly),--when (the Bhikkhu charged) has not been suspected of an offence against morality, nor seen (to have committed one), nor heard (to have committed one)--. . . . of an offence against conduct--. . . . of an

offence against doctrine These are the ten kinds, &c.

And which are the ten kinds of inhibition of the Patimokkha which are legal? [The same as the last, positive instead of negative.]

4. 'And how (can it be legally said that) a Bhikkhu(Monk) who has been guilty of a Parajika offence is seated in the assembly?

'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu sees that (another) Bhikkhu is incurring a Parajika offence by those means, marks, and signs by which the incurring of a Parajika offence is brought about. Or in case a Bhikkhu does not himself see that (another) Bhikkhu is incurring a Parajika offence, but another Bhikkhu inform the (first-mentioned) Bhikkhu, saying, "Such and such a Bhikkhu, Sir, has been guilty of a Parajika offence." Or in case a Bhikkhu does not himself see that another Bhikkhu is incurring a Parajika offence, but that one himself inform the (first-mentioned) Bhikkhu, saying, "I, Sir, have been guilty of a Parajika offence."

'(In either of these cases), O Bhikkhus, if he seem to do so, the Bhikkhu may, on the ground of what he has seen and heard and suspected, bring forward the following resolution on an Uposatha day, on the fourteenth or fifteenth day of the month, at a time when that individual is present in the midst of the Sangha: "Let the venerable Sangha hear me. Such and such an individual has been guilty of a Parajika offence. I interdict for him the Patimokkha, to the effect that the Patimokkha ought not to be recited at a time when he is present." That is a legal inhibition of the Patimokkha.

'If, when the Patimokkha his been inhibited for

that Bhikkhu, the assembly should rise on account of any one or other of the Ten Dangers--danger arising from the king, or from thieves, or from fire, or from water, or from human beings, or from non- human beings, or from beasts of prey, or from creeping things, or danger of life, or danger against chastity--the Bhikkhu may, if he desire to do so, bring forward the following resolution, either in that circle of residence or in another circle of residence, at a time when that individual is present in the midst of the assembly: "Let the venerable Sangha hear me. A discussion had commenced with regard to a Parajika offence of such and such a person, but that matter was not decided. If the time seems meet to the Sangha, let the Sangha decide that matter." If he thus succeed, it is well. If not, then on an Uposatha day, on the fourteenth or fifteenth day of the month, at a time when that individual is present in the midst of the Sangha, let him bring forward the following resolution: "Let the venerable Sangha hear me. A discussion had commenced with regard to a Parajika offence of such and such a person, but that matter was not decided. I interdict the Patimokkha for him to the effect that the Patimokkha ought not to be recited at a time when he is present." That is a legal inhibition of the Patimokkha.

5. 'And how (can it be legally said that a Bhikkhu) who has abandoned the precepts is seated in the assembly?'

[The same as last, reading 'abandoned the precepts,' &c., for 'Parajika offence,' &c.]

6. 'And how (can it be legally said that the person

charged) does not submit himself to the legally (prescribed) concord (of the assembly)?'

[Same as last, reading 'not submit himself to the legally (prescribed) concord of the assembly,' &c., instead of 'abandon the precepts,' &c.]

7. 'And how (can it be legally said that the person charged) withdraws his acceptance of the legally (established) concord (of the assembly)?'

[Same as last, reading 'withdraws his acceptance,' &c., for 'does not submit,' &c.]

8. 'And how can it be legally said that the person charged has been seen or heard or suspected of having committed an offence against morality. . . . an offence against conduct. . . . an offence against doctrine?'

[Same as 4, reading 'offence against morality,' &c., for 'Parajika offence.]

These are the ten kinds of the inhibition of Patimokkha which are legal.

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Here ends the First Portion for Recitation.