Chulavagga 7.5

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

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

SEVENTH KHANDHAKA (DISSENSIONS IN THE ORDER)

Chapter-5.

1. Now the venerable Upali went up to the Lord Buddha, and bowed down before him, and took his seat on one side. And when he was so seated, the venerable Upali said to the Lord Buddha: 'The expressions, Lord, "disunion in the Sangha," and "schism in the Sangha," are used. How much, Lord, goes to make disunion and not schism in the Sangha, and how much goes to make both disunion and schism in the Sangha?'

'If one is on one side, Upali, and two on the other side, and a fourth makes a formal proposition, and gives them voting-tickets, saying, "This is according to the Dhamma, and according to the Vinaya, and according to the teaching of the Master. Take this (ticket) and give your sanction to this (opinion)"--then this, Upali, is disunion in the Sangha, and not schism.

If, Upali, two are on one side, and other two are on the other side, and a fifth. . . . (and so on up to) and an eighth tell them something (&c., as before)--then this, Upali, is disunion in the Sangha, and not schism.

'If, Upali, four are on one side, and other four

are on the other side, and a ninth tell them (&c., as before)--then this, Upali, is both disunion in the Sangha, and it is schism.

(A separation) of nine, Upali, or of more than nine, is both disunion in the Sangha, and it is schism.

'A Bhikkhuni, Upali, cannot make (one of the requisite number to cause) a schism, though she may help to produce a schism--nor a woman novice, nor a Samanera, male or female, nor a layman, nor a laywoman. It is only a Bhikkhu who is in full possession of all his privileges, and belongs to the same communion, and is domiciled in the same district who can make (one of the number requisite to form) a schism.'

2. 'There is the expression, Lord, "schism in the Sangha." How much, Lord, does it require to constitute a schism in the Sangha?'

'They put forth, Upali, what is not Dhamma as Dhamma, or what is Dhamma as not Dhamma, or what is not Vinaya as Vinaya, or what is Vinaya as not Vinaya, or what has not been taught and spoken by the Tathagata(Buddha) as taught and spoken by him , or what has been taught and spoken by the Tathagata as not taught

and spoken by him, or what has not been practised by the Tathagata(Buddha) as practised by him, or what has been practised by the Tathagata as not practised by him, or what has not been ordained by the Tathagata as ordained by him , or what has been ordained by the Tathagata as not ordained by him , or what is no offence as an offence , or what is an offence as no offence , or what is a slight offence to be a grievous offence , or what is a grievous offence to be a slight offence, or what is (a rule regarding) an offence to which there is an atonement as without atonement , or what is (a rule regarding) an offence to which there is no atonement as admitting of atonement , or what is a grave offence as not .a grave offence , or what is not a grave offence as a grave offence. In these Eighteen Points they hinder and mislead (their followers), and perform independently Uposatha, and Pavarana, and (official) acts of the Sangha. So much, Upali, does it require to constitute a schism in the Sangha.'

3. 'There is the expression, Lord, "concord in the Sangha." What, Lord, does it require to constitute concord in the Sangha?'

'They put forth, Upali, what is not Dhamma as not Dhamma (and so on through the Eighteen Points down to the end).

24. 'To what (result of Karma), Lord, does that

man give rise who brings about a schism in the Sangha when it is in concord?'

'He gives rise, Upali, to a fault (the result of which) endures for a Kalpa, and for a Kalpa is he boiled in niraya(hell).'

"He who breaks up the Sangha is (doomed) to remain for a Kalpa in states of suffering and woe.

He who delights in party (strife), and adheres not to the Dhamma, is cut off from Arahatship:

Having broken up the Sangha when it was at peace he is boiled for a Kalpa in niraya(hell)."

'To what (result of Karma), Lord, does that man give rise who brings about reconciliation in the Sangha when it has been split up?'

'He gives rise, Upali, to the highest merit, and for a Kalpa is he happy in heaven.

"Beneficent is concord in the Sangha, and the support of those who are at peace! He who delights in peace, adhering to the Dhamma, is not cut off from Arahatship: On reconciling the Sangha, when it was at strife, he is happy for a Kalpa in heaven."' 5. 'Can it be, Lord, that one who breaks up the Sangha is irretrievably (doomed) to remain for a Kalpa in states of suffering and woe?'

'Yes, Upali, that can be.'

'Can it be, Lord, that one who breaks up the Sangha is not doomed to be reborn in states either of suffering or of woe; that he is not doomed to remain so in such states for a Kalpa; and that he (his position) is not irretrievable?'

'Yes, Upali, that can be.'

'Who then, Lord, [comes under the first head?]'

'In case, Upali, a Bhikkhu gives out what is not Dhamma as Dhamma, directing his opinion and his approval and his pleasure and his intention (to what he says and does); and in belief that the doctrine (he propounds) is against the Dhamma, and that the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma; and makes publication of that, giving out tickets, and saying, "Take this (voting-ticket): approve this (opinion). This is Dhamma; this is Vinaya; this is the teaching of the Master,"--a man, Upali, who thus divides the Sangha, is irretrievably doomed to remain for a Kalpa in states of suffering and woe.'

[The above paragraph is then repeated in full, reading successively for 'in belief that the doctrine (he propounds) is against the Dhamma, and the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma,' each of the following clauses:--

(b). . . in belief that the doctrine is against the Dhamma, but that the schism resulting from that would be in accordance with the Dhamma. ..

(c). . . in belief that the doctrine is against the Dhamma, but in uncertainty whether the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma or not. ..

(d). . . in belief that the doctrine is in accordance with the Dhamma, but that the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma. ..

(e). . . in belief that the doctrine is in accordance with the Dhamma, but in uncertainty whether the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma or not. ..

(f). . . in uncertainty whether the doctrine is against the Dhamma or not, but in the belief that the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma. ..

(g). . . in uncertainty whether the doctrine is against the Dhamma or not, and in the belief that the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma. ..

(h). . . in uncertainty whether the doctrine would be against the Dhamma, and in uncertainty whether the schism resulting from that would be against the Dhamma or not. . .]

[The whole paragraph is then again repeated, reading successively for 'gives out that which is not Dhamma as Dhamma' each of the Eighteen Points given in full in VII, 5, 2.]

6. 'Who then, Lord, is one who breaks up the Sangha, and yet is not doomed to be reborn in states either of suffering or of woe; is not doomed to remain in such states for a Kalpa; and is not so doomed that his position is irretrievable?'

'In case, Upali, a Bhikkhu gives out what is not Dhamma as Dhamma [and so on successively through the whole Eighteen Points] without directing his opinion and his approval and his pleasure and his intention to that, and in the belief that the doctrine he propounds is in accordance with the Dhamma, and that the schism resulting from that would be so too.'

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Here ends the Third Portion for Recitation.