Mahavogga 5.8

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

1. Now when the Blessed One had remained at Benares as long as he thought fit, he set out on his journey towards Bhaddiya. And wandering from place to place he came to Bhaddiya: and there, at Bhaddiya, he stayed in the Gâtiyâ Grove.

Now at that time the Bhikkhus at Bhaddiya were accustomed to the use of various kinds of foot coverings for the sake of ornament. They made, or had made for themselves foot coverings of tinagrass, of munga-grass, of babbaga-grass, of the leaves of the date-palm, of kamala-grass, and of wool. And they neglected instruction, enquiry, morality, self-concentration, and wisdom.

2. The moderate Bhikkhus were annoyed, murmured, and became angry, thinking,' How can they [do so]?' And those Bhikkhus told this thing to the Blessed One.

' Is it true' (&c, as in chap. 4. 2) ?

' It is true, Lord.'

The Blessed Buddha rebuked them, saying,' How can they [do so] ?' This will not conduce (&c, as in chap. 4. 2, down to:) becoming estranged.

3. Having thus rebuked them, and having delivered a religious discourse, he thus addressed the Bhikkhus: 'Shoes, O Bhikkhus, made of tina-grass are not to be worn, or made of muna-grass, or of babbaga-grass, or of leaves of the date-palm, or of kamala-grass, or of wool, nor [ornamented with] gold, or silver, or pearls, or beryls, or crystal, or copper, or glass, or tin, or lead, or bronze. Whosoever does so, is guilty of a dukkata offence. 'And clogs, O Bhikkhus, that are taken away, are not to be worn. Whosoever does so, is guilty of a dukkata offence.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the use of three kinds of clogs, that are fixed to the ground, and are not taken away, privy-clogs, urinal-clogs, and rinsingclogs.