Chulavagga 5.24

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

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

FIFTH KHANDHAKA (ON THE DAILY LIFE OF THE BHIKKHUS)

Chapter-24.

1. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu tied his bowl with a string, and suspending it on a staff, went after noon out of a certain village gate. The people calling out, 'There goes a thief; his sword is glistening,' fell upon him, and seized him. But on recognising him, they let him go. That Bhikkhu, returning to the Arama, told this matter to the Bhikkhus.

'What then, Sir,. did you carry a staff with a string to it?'

'It is even so, Sirs.'

Those Bhikkhus who were moderate murmured (&c., as usual, see I, 1, 2, 3). . . . told the Lord Buddha. . . . he addressed the Bhikkhus, and said:

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to carry a staff with a string to it. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

2. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu was sick, and he could not wander about without a staff. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to give to a sick Bhikkhu the permission (license) to use a staff. And thus, O Bhikkhus, should it be given. That sick Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, should go up to the Sangha [here follow the words of a Kammavaka, precisely as in V, 20, 7]'

3. [Similar paragraphs ending with Kammavakas for license to lift the bowl with a string, and with both a staff and a string.]