Chulavagga 5.11

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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-11.

1. Now at that time the Bhikkhus sewed their robes together after tearing the cloth with their hands; and the robes became jagged.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a blade and of a sheath (for the blade) made of felt.'

Now at that time a blade with a haft to it had come into the possession of the Sangha.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a blade with a haft to it.'

Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus used various kinds of long handles to their blades, made of silver, and made of gold.

People murmured (&c., as usual, down to) They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to use various kinds of handles to your blades. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of handles to your blades made of bone, or ivory. or horn, or of the na la reed, or of bamboo, or hard wood, or of lac, or of the shells of fruit, or of bronze, or of the centre of the chank-shell:

2. Now at that time the Bhikkhus sewed their robes with quills or bits of bamboo rind, and the robes were badly sewn.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of needles.'

The needles got blunted.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a needle-case made of bamboo.'

Even in the needle-cases the needles became blunt.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to fill the cases with chunam.

Even in the chunam the needles became blunt.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to fill the cases with barley-meal.'

Even in the barley-meal the needles became blunt.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of powdered stone.'

Even in the powdered stone the needles became blunt.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to mix (the powder) with beeswax.'

The powder still did not cohere.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to mix sipatika gum with the powder.'

3. Now at that time the Bhikkhus sewed their robes together by planting stakes here and there, and uniting them (with strings). The robes became out of shape.'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a Kathina,

and that you are to sew the robes together after tying down Kathina-strings here and there.'

They spread out the Kathina on uneven (ground), and the Kathina fell to pieces.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to spread out the Kathina on uneven (ground). Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

They spread out the Kathina on the ground, and the Kathina became dirty.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a grass-mat.'

The edge of the Kathina decayed through age.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to strengthen it by a doubling or a binding along the edge.

The Kathina was not large enough.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a danda-kathina, of a pidalaka, of a ticket, of binding strings, and of binding threads; and that you sew your robes together after binding them therewith.'

The interstices between the threads became irregular in length.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of little marks (of the leaf of the talipot palm, or such-like things).'

The threads became crooked.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of false threads (laid along the cloth to show where it is to be cut or sewn).'

4. Now at that time the Bhikkhus got on to the Kathina with unwashen feet, or wet feet, or with their shoes on, and the Kathina was soiled.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to get on to the Kathina with unwashen feet, or with wet feet, or with your shoes on. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

5. Now at that time the Bhikkhus, when sewing

their robes, held the stuff with their fingers, and their fingers were hurt.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a thimble.'

Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus used various kinds of thimbles; gold ones, and silver ones.

People murmured, &c. The Bhikkhus heard, &c. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to use various kinds of thimbles. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, thimbles made of bone, or ivory, or horn, or of the na la reed, or of bamboo, or of hard wood, or of lac, or of the shells of fruit, or of bronze, or of the centre of the chank-shell.'

Now at that time the needles, and scissors, and thimbles got lost.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a box or drawer in the workshop.'

They got crowded together in the workshop box. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a thimble bag (to carry the thimbles about in).'

They had no shoulder-strap.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a shoulder-strap, or of a piece of string, to tie the bags on with.'

6. Now at that time the Bhikkhus, when sewing their robes in the open air, were distressed by heat and by cold.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a hall or of a shed for the Kathina:

The Kathina hall had too low a basement, and it was inundated with water.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to make it with a high basement.'

The facing (of the basement) fell in.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to line the basement with facing of three kinds--brick facing, stone facing, or wooden facing.'

They found difficulty in getting up into it.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus(Monks), the use of stairs of three kinds--brick stairs, stone stairs, or wooden stairs.'

As they were going up them they fell off.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of a balustrade.'

Straw and plaster fell (from the walls and roof) into the Kathina-hall.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to first cover over (the walls and roof with skins), and then plaster them within and without. (And I allow the use of) whitewash, and blacking, and red colouring, and wreath-work, and creeper-work, and bone hooks, and cupboards, and bamboos to hang robes on, and strings to hang robes on.'

7. Now at that time the Bhikkhus, when they had sewn the robes together, left the Kathina as it was, and went away; and the robes were eaten by rats and white ants.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to fold up the Kathina.

The Kathina came to pieces.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to fold up the Kathina in a cow-hide (?).'

The Kathina got uncovered.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of strings to tie it up with.'

Now at that time the Bhikkhus went away, putting the Kathina up against the wall or a pillar; and the Kathina, falling over, was broken.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to hang it on a stake of the wall,. or on a hook.'