Mahavogga 1.25

Tipitaka >> Vinaya Pitaka >> Khandhaka >> Mahavagga >> First Khandaka >> 1.25

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

1. At that time some Bhikkhus, as they had no upagghâyas (preceptors) and received no exhortation and instruction, went on their rounds for alms wearing improper under and upper garments (or, wearing their under and upper garments improperly), and in an improper attire. While people were eating, they held out their alms-bowls in which were leavings of food, over the hard food (which the people were eating), and held them out over soft food, and held them out over savoury food, and held them out over drinks. They asked for soup and boiled rice themselves, and ate it; in the dining halls they made a great and loud noise.

2. The people were annoyed, murmured, and became angry (saying), 'How can the Sakyaputtiya Samanas go on their rounds for alms wearing improper under and upper garments,. . . . (&c., as in § 1, down to drinks)? How can they make so great and loud a noise in the dining halls? They behave like Brâhmanas at the dinners given to them.'

3. Some Bhikkhus heard those people that were annoyed, murmured, and had become angry. Those Bhikkhus who were moderate, frugal, modest, conscientious, anxious for training, were annoyed, murmured, and became angry: 'How can the Bhikkhus go on their rounds for alms wearing improper under and upper garments, &c.? How can they make so great and loud a noise in the dining halls?'

4. These Bhikkhus told this thing to the Blessed One.

In consequence of that and on this occasion the Blessed One, having ordered the fraternity of Bhikkhus to assemble, questioned the Bhikkhus: 'Is it true, O Bhikkhus, that some Bhikkhus go on their rounds,. . . . (&c., down to), that they make a great and loud noise in the dining halls?'

'It is true, Lord.'

5. Then the Blessed Buddha rebuked those Bhikkhus: 'It is improper, O Bhikkhus, what these foolish persons are doing, it is unbecoming, indecent, un worthy of Samanas, unallowable, and to be avoided. How can these foolish persons, O Bhikkhus, go on their rounds, &c.? How can they make so great and loud a noise in the dining halls? This will not do, O Bhikkhus, for converting the unconverted, and for augmenting the number of the converted; but it will result, O Bhikkhus, in the unconverted being repulsed (from the faith), and in many of the converted being estranged.'

6. And the Blessed One rebuked those Bhikkhus in many ways, spoke against unfrugality, ill-nature, immoderation, insatiableness, delighting in society, and indolence; spoke in many ways in praise of frugality, good-nature, of the moderate, contented, who have eradicated (sin), who have shaken off (sin), of the gracious, of the reverent, and of the energetic. And having delivered beforethe Bhikkhus a religious discourse in accordance to, and in conformity with these subjects, he thus addressed the Bhikkhus:

'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, (that young Bhikkhus choose) an upagghâya (or preceptor).

'The upagghâya, O Bhikkhus, ought to consider the saddhivihârika (i.e. pupil) as a son; the saddhivihârika ought to consider the upagghâya as a father. Thus these two, united by mutual reverence, confidence, and communion of life, will progress, advance, and reach a high stage in this doctrine and discipline.

7. 'And let them choose, O Bhikkhus, an upagghâya in this way: Let him (who is going to choose an upagghâya) adjust his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, salute the feet (of the intended upagghâya), sit down squatting, raise his joined hands, and say: "Venerable Sir, be my upagghâya; venerable Sir, be my upagghâya; venerable Sir, be my upagghâya." (If the other answer): "Well," or, "Certainly," or, "Good," or, "All right," or, "Carry on (your work) with friendliness (towards me)," or should he express this by gesture (lit. by his body). or by word, or by gesture and word, then the upagghâya has been chosen. If he does not express this by gesture, nor by word, nor by gesture and word, the upagghâya has not been chosen.

8. 'The saddhivihârika, O Bhikkhus, ought to observe a strict conduct towards his upagghâya. And these are the rules for his conduct: Let him arise betimes, and having taken off his shoes and adjusted his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, let him give (to the upagghâya) the teeth-cleanser and water to rinse his mouth with. Then let him prepare a seat (for the upagghâya). If there is rice-milk, let him rinse the jug and offer the rice-milk (to the upagghâya). When he has drunk it, let him give water (to the upagghâya), take the jug, hold it down, rinse it properly without (damaging it by) rubbing, and put it away. When the upagghâya has risen, let him take away the seat. If the place is dirty, let him sweep the place.

9. 'If the upagghâya wishes to go into the village, let (the saddhivihârika) give (to the upagghâya) his under garment, take (from him) his second under garment (i.e. his house-dress ?), give him his girdle, lay the two upper garments upon each other and give them (to the upagghâya), rinse the alms-bowl, and give it him with some water in it. If the upagghâya wishes (to go with) an attendant Bhikkhu, let him put on his under garment so as to conceal the three circles (viz. the navel and the two knees) and as to cover the body all around; then let him put on his girdle, lay the two upper garments upon each other and put them on, tie the knots, take his alms-bowl, after having it rinsed, and follow the upagghâya as his attendant. Let him not go too far (from the upagghâya) nor too near. Let him take (from the upagghâya) what has been put into his alms-bowl.

10. 'When the upagghâya speaks, let (the saddhivihârika) not interrupt him. If the upagghâya is in danger of committing an offence by the words he says, let (the saddhivihârika) keep him back. When (the upagghâya) turns back (from his alms-pilgrimage), let the saddhivihârika go back (to the Vihâra) before (the upagghâya), prepares seat, get water for the washing of his feet, a foot-stool, and a towel; then let him go to meet the upagghâya, take his bowl and his robe, give him his second under garment (his house-dress ?), and take his under garment. If the robe (of the upagghâya) is wet with perspiration, let him dry it a while in a hot place, but let him not leave the robe in a hot place. Let him fold up the robe. When folding up the robe, let him fold it up so as to leave (every day) four inches (more than the day before) hanging over at the corners, in order that no fold may arise in the middle of it. Let him the girdle. If there is any food received in the alms-bowl, and the upagghâya desires to eat it, let him give water (to the upagghâya) and then offer him the food.

11. 'Let him offer to the upagghâya (water) to drink. When the upagghâya has finished his meal, let (the saddhivihârika) give him water, take his alms-bowl, hold it down, rinse it properly without (damaging it by) rubbing, pour the water out, and dry (the bowl) a while in some hot place, but let him not leave the bowl in the hot place. Let him put away the alms-bowl and the robe. When he puts away the alms-bowl, let him do so holding the alms-bowl with one hand, and first feeling with the other hand under the bed or under the chair (where he is going to put the bowl), and let him not put the bowl on the bare ground. When he hangs up the robe, let him take the robe with one hand and stroke with the other hand along the bambu peg or rope on which the robe is to be hung up, and hang up the robe so that the border is turned away from him (and turned to the wall), and the fold is turned towards him. When the upagghâya has risen, let him take away the seat and put away the water for the washing of the feet, the foot-stool, and the towel. If the place is dirty, let him sweep the place.

12. 'If the upagghâya wishes to bathe, let him prepare a bath. If he wants cold water, let him get cold water; if he wants hot water, let him get hot water. If the upagghâya wishes to go to the gantâghara, let (the saddhivihârika) knead the powder, moisten the clay, take up the chair belonging to the gantâghara, follow the upagghâya from behind, give him the chair, take his robe and put it aside, give him the powder and the clay. If he is able, let him also enter the gantâghara. When he is going to enter the gantâghara, let him besmear his face with clay, cover himself from before and behind, and thus enter the gantâghara.

13. 'Let him not sit down so as to encroach on senior Bhikkhus, nor let him dislodge junior Bhikkhus from their seats. Let him wait upon the upagghâya in thegantâghara. When he is going to leave thegantâghara, let him take up the chair belonging to the gantâghara, cover himself from before and behind, and thus leave the gantâghara. Let him wait upon the upagghâya also in the water. When he has bathed, let (the saddhivihârika) go out of the water first, let him dry his own body, put on his dress, then wipe off the water from his upagghâya's body, give him his under garment and his upper garment, take the chair belonging to the gantâghara, go before the upagghâya, prepare a seat for him, and get water for the washing of his feet, a foot-stool, and a towel. Let him offer to the upagghâya (water) to drink.

14. 'If (the upagghâya) likes being called upon to deliver a discourse, let him call upon (the upagghâya to do so). If (the upagghâya) likes questions being put to him, let him put questions (to the upagghâya).

'If the Vihâra, in which the upagghâya dwells, is dirty, let him clean that Vihâra, if he is able to do so. When cleaning the Vihâra, let him first take away the alms-bowl and the robe (of the upagghâya) and lay them aside. Let him take away the mat and the sheet and lay them aside. Let him take away the mattress and the pillow and lay them aside.

15. 'Let him turn down the bed, take it away properly without rubbing it (against the floor) and without knocking it against door or doorpost, and put it aside. Let him turn down the chair, take it away properly without rubbing it (against the floor) and without knocking it against door or doorpost, and put it aside. Let him take away the supporters of the bed and put them aside. Let him take away the spitting-box and put it aside. Let him take away the board to recline on and put it aside. Let him take away the carpet, after having noticed how it was spread out, and put it aside. If there are cobwebs in the Vihâra, let him remove them as soon as he sees them. Let him wipe off the casements and the corners of the room. If a wall which is coated with red chalk, is dirty, let him moisten the mop, wring it out, and scour the wall. If the floor is coated black and is dirty, let him moisten the mop, wring it out, and scour the floor. If the floor is not blacked, let him sprinkle it with water and scrub it in order that the Vihâra may not become dusty. Let him heap up the sweepings and cast them aside.

16. 'Let him bask the carpet in the sunshine, clean it, dust it by beating, take it back, and spread it out as it was spread before. Let him put the supporters of the bed in the sunshine, wipe them take them back, and put them in their place. Let him put the bed in the sunshine, dean it, dust it by beating, turn it down, take it back properly without rubbing it (against the floor) and without knocking it against door and doorpost, and put it in its place. Let him put the chair in the sunshine, &c. Let him put mattress and pillow in the sunshine, clean them, dust them by beating, take them back, and lay them out as they were laid out before. Let him put the mat and sheet in the sunshine, &c. Let him put the spittoon in the sunshine, wipe it, take it back, and put it in its place. Let him put in the sunshine the board to recline on, &c. 17. 'Let him put away the alms-bowl and the robe. When he puts them away (&c., as in § 11, down to:), and hang up the robe so that the border is turned away from him and the fold is turned towards him.

18. 'If dusty winds blow from the East, let him shut the windows on the East. If dusty winds blow from the West, let him shut the windows on the West, &c. If it is cold weather, let him open the windows by day and shut them at night. If it is hot weather, let him shut the windows by day and open them at night.

19. 'If the cell is dirty, let him sweep the cell. If the store-room is dirty, let him sweep the store-room. If the refectory, &c. If the fire room, &c. If the privy is dirty, let him sweep the privy. If there is no drinkable water, let him provide drinkable water. If there is no food, let him provide food. If there is no water in the waterpot for rinsing the mouth with, let him pour water into the pot.

20. 'If discontent has arisen within the upagghâya's heart, let the saddhivihârika appease him, or cause him to be appeased (by another), by compose him by religious conversation. If indecision has arisen in the upagghâya's mind, let the saddhivihârika dispel it, or cause it to be dispelled, or compose him by religious conversation. If the upagghâya takes to a false doctrine, let the saddhivihârika discuss it, or cause another to discuss it, or compose (the upagghâya) by religious conversation.

21. 'If the upagghâya is guilty of a grave offence, and ought to be sentenced to parivâsa discipline, let the saddhivihârika take care that the Samgha sentence the upagghâya to parivâsa discipline. If the upagghâya ought to be sentenced to recommence his penal discipline, let the saddhivihârika take care that the Samgha may order the upagghâya to recommence his penal discipline. If the mânatta discipline ought to be imposed on the upagghâya, let the saddhivihârika take care that the Samgha impose the mânatta discipline on the upagghâya. If the upagghâya is to be rehabilitated (when his penal discipline has been duly undergone), let the saddhivihârika take care that the Samgha rehabilitate the upagghâya.

22. 'If the Samgha wishes to proceed against the upagghâya by the tagganiyakamma, or the nissaya, or the pabbâganiyakamma, or the patisâraniyakamma, or the ukkhepaniyakamma, let the saddhivihârika do what he can in order that the Samgha may not proceed against the upagghâya or may mitigate the proceeding. Or if thc Samgha has instituted a proceeding against him, the tagganiyakamma, &c., or the ukkhepaniyakamma, let the saddhivihârika do what he can in order that the upagghâya may behave himself properly, live modestly, and aspire to get clear of his penance, and that the Samgha may revoke its sentence.

23. 'If the robe of the upagghâya must be washed, let the saddhivihârika wash it or take care that the upagghâya's robe is washed. If a robe must be made for the upagghâya, let the saddhivihârika make it or take care that the upagghâya's robe is made. If dye must be boiled for the upagghâya, &c. If the robe of the upagghâya must be dyed, &c. When he dyes the robe, let him dye it properly and turn it whenever required, and let him not go away before the dye has ceased to drop.

24. 'Let him not give his alms-bowl to any one without the permission of his upagghâya. Let him not accept an alms-bowl from any one else without the permission of his upagghâya. Let him not give his robe to any one else, &c. Let him not accept a robe from any one else; let him not give articles (required for a Bhikkhu) to any one else; let him not receive (such) articles from anyone else; let him not shave the hair of any one else; let him not have his hair shaven by any one else; let him not wait upon any one else; let him not have done service by any one else; let him not execute commissions for any one else; let him not have commissions executed by anyone else; let him not go with anyone else as his attendant; let him not take any one else with him as his attendant; let him not carry any one's food received by him in alms (to the Vihâra); let him not have the food received by himself in alms carried by any one (to the Vihâra) without the permission of his upagghâya. Let him not enter the village, or go to a cemetery, or go abroad on journeys without the permission of his upagghâya. If his upagghâya is sick, let him nurse him as long as his life lasts, and wait until he has recovered.'

End of the duties towards an upagghâya