Chulavagga 8.6

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

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

THE EIGHTH KHANDHAKA(DUTIES OF THE BHIKKHUS TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER)

Chapter-6.

1: Now at that time a number of Bhikkhus dwelt in the woods; and they provided neither drinking-water, nor water for washing, nor fire, nor drill sticks nor tinder (for starting a fire); nor did they know the stations of the constellations, nor the divisions of the (ten) 'directions' (of the sky).

Thieves went there and said to the Bhikkhus, 'Have you, Sirs, got drinking-water?'

'No, friends, we have not.'

'Have you, Sirs, got water for washing?'

'No, friends, we have not.'

'Have you, Sirs, got fire?'

'No, friends, we have not.'

'Have you, Sirs, got sticks and tinder for producing fire?'

'No, friends, we have not.'

'With what (constellation is the moon now in) conjunction?'

'That, friends, we do not know.'

'Which direction is this?'

'That, friends, we do not know.'

[On hearing these answers], the thieves said, 'These are thieves. These men are no Bhikkhus.' And they beat them, and went away.

The Bhikkhus told this matter to the Bhikkhus. The Bhikkhus told it to the Lord Buddha. Then the Lord Buddha, on that occasion and in that connection, after delivering a dhamma discourse, said to the Bhikkhus

'Therefore, O Bhikkhus, do I establish a rule of conduct for Bhikkhus dwelling in the woods, according to which they are to behave themselves in that.

2. 'A Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, who is dwelling in the woods, should rise early, place his bowl in the bag, hang it over his shoulder, arrange, his upper robe over his back (over both shoulders), get on

his sandals, put the utensils of wood and earthenware in order, close the doorway and lattice, and then leave his lodging-place.

'When he perceives that he is about to enter a village, he should take off his sandals, turn them upside down, beat them to get the dust out, put them into a bag, hang it over his shoulder, put on his waistcloth [and so on as laid down for a Bhikkhu(Monk) entering the village for alms above, VIII, 5, 2, paragraph 1, to the end].

3. 'On leaving a village he should put the bowl into its bag, hang it over his shoulder, roll his robes up, put them on his head, get on his sandals, and then go.

'A Bhikkhu living in the woods, O Bhikkhus, should keep drinking-water, and water for washing, and fire, and drill sticks and tinder, and walking staves ready. He should learn the stations (of the moon) in the constellations, either in the whole or in part, and he should know the directions of the sky.

'This, O Bhikkhus, is the rule of conduct that I lay. down for Bhikkhus dwelling in the woods, according to which they should behave themselves in that.'