Chulavagga 2.1

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

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

SECOND KHANDHAKA (PROBATION AND PENANCE)

Chapter-1.

1. Now at that time the Great Buddha was staying at Savatthi, in the Jetavana, Anathapindika's Grove. And at that time Bhikkhus(Monks) who had been placed on probation used to accept reverence and service and salutation and respect from regular Bhikkhus; and to allow them to provide a seat, or a sleeping-place, or water for the feet, or a foot-stool, or a foot-towel for them; and to carry their bowl or their robe, and to shampoo them.

Those Bhikkhus who were moderate were annoyed, murmured, and became indignant, saying, 'How can Bhikkhus who have been placed on probation accept reverence (&c., as above, down to) shampoo them?'

And those Bhikkhus told this thing to the Lord Buddha.

Then the Lord Buddha on that occasion, and in that connection, convened a meeting of the Bhikkhusangha, and asked the Bhikkhus: 'Is it true, O Bhikkhus, as they say, that Bhikkhus who have been placed on probation accept reverence (&c., as before, down to) shampoo them?'

'It is true, Lord.'

The Great Buddha rebuked them, saying, 'How can those Bhikkhus (&c., as before, down to) shampoo them? This will not conduce, O Bhikkhus (&c., as usual, down to) turning back of those who have been converted.'

And when he had rebuked them, and had delivered a dhamma discourse, he addressed the Bhikkhus, saying, 'A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not to accept reverence (&c., as before, down to) shampoo them. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata offence. I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, to those Bhikkhus who have been placed on probation to do [all the courtesies, duties, and services mentioned above] for one another, according to their seniority. I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, five things (as permissible) to Bhikkhus who have been placed on probation,

according to their seniority; (that is to say), the Uposatha ceremony, the Pavarana ceremony, the share in robes for the rainy season, in things dedicated to the Sangha, and in food.

2. 'Therefore, O Bhikkhus, do I make known to you a rule of conduct for Bhikkhus who have been placed on probation, according to which they ought to conduct themselves aright. And in this, this is the right conduct. He ought not to confer the Upasampada (&c., as above, in I, 1, 5, down to the end).

A. Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to walk in front of, or to sit down in front of, a regular Bhikkhu. Whichever belonging to that company of Bhikkhus shall be the worst seat, or the worst sleeping-place, or the worst room, that shall be given to that Bhikkhu, and there-

with shall he content himself. A Bhikkhu who has been placed under probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to visit the families who support a regular Bhikkhu (by officiating, in order to do so, as the companion who precedes or follows that regular Bhikkhu)--he ought not to devote himself to a forest life--he ought not to devote himself to living on alms personally received--he ought not to cause an alms to be brought out to him with the object of escaping an extension of his probationary term, thinking, "Let them not recognise me" (as one who has been placed under probation).

'A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought, O Bhikkhus, to announce the fact of his having been so placed when he arrives at a residence as an incoming Bhikkhu--he ought to announce the fact to an incoming Bhikkhu--he ought to announce the fact at an Uposatha meeting--he ought to announce the fact at a Pavarana meeting--and, if he be sick, he ought to announce the fact at such meetings by means of a messenger.

3. 'A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to go away from a residence in which Bhikkhus are living to a residence in which no Bhikkhus are living, unless with a regular Bhikkhu, or in time of danger. A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to go away from a residence in which Bhikkhus are living to a place which is not a residence and where no Bhikkhus are living, unless with a regular Bhikkhu, or in time of danger. A Bhikkhu (&c., as before) ought not to go away from a residence in which Bhikkhus are living, either to a residence or to a place which is not a residence, and where Bhikkhus are not living, unless (&c., as before). . . . from a place which is not a residence, but where Bhikkhus are living, to a place which is a residence, but where Bhikkhus are not living. . . . from a place which is not a residence, but where Bhikkhus are living, to a place which is not a residence and where Bhikkhus are not living. . . . from a place which is no residence, but where Bhikkhus are living, either to a place which is not a residence or to a residence where no Bhikkhus are living. . . . from a place which is either a residence or not a residence, to a place which is a residence, but where no Bhikkhus are living. . . . from a place which is either a residence or no residence, but where Bhikkhus are living, to a place

which is not a residence and where no Bhikkhus are living. . . . from a place which is either a residence or not a residence, but where Bhikkhus are living, to a place which is either a residence or not a residence, but where no Bhikkhus are living, unless with a regular Bhikkhu or in time of danger.

'A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to go away from a residence where Bhikkhus are living to a residence where Bhikkhus are living, but where there may be Bhikkhus of different communities from his own (unless, &c., as before). [The same changes as in the last series are here rung upon this inhibition, down to]. . . . from a place which is either a residence or not a residence, but where Bhikkhus. are living, to a place which is either a residence or not a residence, and where Bhikkhus are living, but where there may be Bhikkhus of different communities from his own (unless, &c., as before).

'A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought to go, O Bhikkhus, from a residence where Bhikkhus are living to a residence where Bhikkhus are living, and where there are Bhikkhus of the same community (with himself), if he knows, "This very day I can go there." [Here follow the same permutations and combinations as in the last two series.]

4. 'A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to dwell with a regular Bhikkhu in a residence under one and the same roof--nor in a place which is not a residence under one and the same roof--nor in a place which is either a residence or not a residence under one and the same roof. On seeing a regular Bhikkhu he

ought to rise from his seat; and he ought to offer his seat to a regular Bhikkhu. He ought not to sit down on one and the same seat with a regular Bhikkhu; when a regular Bhikkhu is seated on a low seat he ought not to sit down on a high seat; when a regular Bhikkhu is seated on the ground he ought not to sit down on a seat; he ought not to walk up and down on the same with a regular Bhikkhu; when a regular Bhikkhu is walking up and down on a low  he ought not to walk up and down on a higher ; when a regular Bhikkhu is walking up and down on the ground he ought not to walk up and down on a (properly prepared).

A Bhikkhu who has been placed on probation ought not, O Bhikkhus, to dwell (&c., all the other acts mentioned in the last paragraph being here repeated down to the end) with a Bhikkhu senior to himself who has been placed on probation. . . . with a Bhikkhu who has been thrown back to the commencement of his term of probation. . . . with a Bhikkhu who has rendered himself liable to the Manatta discipline. . . . with a Bhikkhu undergoing the Manatta discipline. . . . with a Bhikkhu who is in a position to receive rehabilitation'.

If a meeting of four Bhikkhus, of whom one is

a probationer, should place a Bhikkhu on probation, or throw him back to the beginning of his probationary= course, or subject him to the Manatta discipline--or if a meeting of twenty Bhikkhus, of whom one is a probationer, should rehabilitate a Bhikkhu, that, O Bhikkhus, is an invalid act, and need not be obeyed:

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Here end the ninety-four duties encumbent on a probationer.