Mahavogga 1.53

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Translated from the Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg (1881)

1. At that time the Blessed One dwelt at Râgagaha during the rainy season, and remained at the same place during winter and summer. The people were annoyed, &c.: 'The (four) regions are. . . . and covered by darkness to the Sakyaputtiya Samanas; they cannot discern the (four) regions.' Some Bhikkhus heard, &c.

2. Then the Blessed One said to the venerable Ânanda: 'Go, Ânanda, take a key and tell the Bhikkhus in every cell: "Friends, the Blessed One wishes to go forth to Dakkhinâgiri. Let any one of the venerable brethren who thinks fit, come to him."'

The venerable Ânanda accepted this order of the Blessed One (by saying), 'Yes, Lord,' took a key, and said to the Bhikkhus in every cell: 'Friends, the Blessed One,' &c.

3. The Bhikkhus replied: 'Friend Ânanda, the Blessed One has prescribed that Bhikkhus are to live (the first) ten years in dependence (on their âkariyas and upagghâyas), and that he who has completed his tenth year, may give a nissaya himself. Now if we go there, we shall be obliged to take a nissaya there; then we shall stay there for a short time, then we must go back again and take a new nissaya. If our âkariyas and upagghâyas go, we will go also; if our âkariyas and upagghâyas do not go, we will not go either. Otherwise our light-mindedness, friend Ânanda, will become manifest.'

4. Thus the Blessed One went forth to Dakkhinâgiri fonowed only by a few Bhikkhus. And the Blessed One, after having dwelt at Dakkhinâgiri as long as he thought fit, went back to Râgagaha again.

Then the Blessed One said to the venerable Ânanda: 'How is it, Ânanda, that the perfect One has gone forth to Dakkhinâgiri with so few Bhikkhus?'

Then the venerable Ânanda told the thing to the Blessed One.

In consequence of that and on this occasion the Blessed One, after having delivered a religious discourse, thus addressed the Bhikkhus: 'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that a learned, competent Bhikkhu lives five years in dependence (on his âkariya and upagghâya), an unlearned one all his life.

5. 'In five cases, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu should not live without a nissaya (i.e. independent of âkariya and upagghâya): when he does not possess full perfection in what belongs to moral practices (&c., as in chap. 36. 2). In these five cases, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu should not live without a nlssaya.

'In five cases, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu may live without a nissaya: when he possesses full perfection in what belongs to moral practices (&c., as in chap. 36. 3). In these five cases, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu may live without a nissaya.

6-13. 'And also in other five cases, &c.'