Tipitaka >> Vinaya Pitaka >> Mahavagga >> Second Khandaka >> 2.18
Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg
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THE MAHAVAGGA
SECOND KHANDHAKA (THE UPOSATHA CEREMONY, AND THE PATIMOKKHA)
Chapter-18 : Bhikkus to Maintain Counting of Days and of Bhikku's Numbers.
1. Then the Lord Buddha, after having dwelt at Kodanavatthu as long as he thought fit, went back again to Rajagaha. At that time the people asked the Bhikkhus who went about for alms: 'What day of the half month is this, reverend Sirs?' The Bhikkus replied: 'We do not know, friends.' The people were annoyed, murmured, and became angry: 'Those Sakyaputtiya Samanas do not even know how to count (the days of) the half month; what good things else will they know?'
They told this thing to the Lord Buddha.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus(Monks), that you learn how to count (the days of) the half month.'
2. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'Who ought to learn to count (the days of) the half month?'
They told this thing to the Lord Buddha.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus(Monks), that you learn all of you to count (the days of) the half month.'
3. At that time the people asked the Bhikkhus who went about for alms: 'How many Bhikkhus are there, reverend Sirs?' The Bhikkhus replied: 'We do not know, friends.' The people were annoyed, murmured, and became angry: 'Those Sakyaputtiya Samanas(monks) do not even know each other; what good things else will they know?'
They told this thing to the Lord Buddha.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus(Monks), that you count the Bhikkhus.'
4. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'At what time ought we to count the Bhikkhus?'
They told this thing to the Lord Buddha.
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus(Monks), that you count (the Bhikkhus) on the day of Uposatha, either by way of (counting the single) troops (of which the assembly is composed), or that you take (each of you) a ticket (and count those tickets).'
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