1.0.1Origin story

1.0.2First substory

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti.At that time monks were having blankets made every year.1.3Te yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti—They kept on begging and asking,1.4“eḷakalomāni detha.“Please give wool!1.5Eḷakalomehi attho”ti.We need wool!”1.6Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—People complained and criticized them,1.7“kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti—“How can the Sakyan monastics have blankets made every year, begging and asking,1.8‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti.‘Please give wool! We need wool!’?1.9Amhākaṁ pana sakiṁ katāni santhatāni pañcapi chapi vassāni honti, yesaṁ no dārakā uhadantipi ummihantipi undūrehipi khajjanti.We only make blankets for ourselves every five or six years, even though our children defecate and urinate on them and they’re eaten by rats.”1.10Ime pana samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti—1.11‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”ti.

1.12Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.The monks heard the complaints of those people,1.13Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,1.14“kathañhi nāma bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti—“How can those monks do this?”1.15‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”ti.

1.16PTS 3.228Atha kho te bhikkhū te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:1.17“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti—“Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?”1.18‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”ti?

1.19“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.20Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them,1.21kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti—“How can those foolish men do this?1.22‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti.1.23Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.24evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.25.0Preliminary ruling

1.25.1“Navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabbaṁ.‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years.1.26Orena ce channaṁ vassānaṁ taṁ santhataṁ vissajjetvā vā avissajjetvā vā aññaṁ navaṁ santhataṁ kārāpeyya, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.Whether that blanket has been given away or not, if he has another new blanket made in less than six years, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

1.27Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

2.0Second substory

2.1Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kosambiyaṁ gilāno hoti.At one time a certain monk at Kosambī was sick.2.2Ñātakā tassa bhikkhuno santike dūtaṁ pāhesuṁ—His relatives sent him a message, saying,2.3“āgacchatu bhadanto mayaṁ upaṭṭhahissāmā”ti.“Come, venerable, we’ll nurse you.”2.4Bhikkhūpi evamāhaṁsu—The monks2.5“gacchāvuso, ñātakā taṁ upaṭṭhahissantī”ti.urged him to go,2.6So evamāha—but he said,2.7“bhagavatā, āvuso, sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ—“The Buddha has laid down a training rule2.8‘navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabban’ti.that a monk who has had a new blanket made must keep it for six years.2.9Ahañcamhi gilāno, na sakkomi santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ.Now because I’m sick, I’m unable to travel with my blanket.2.10Mayhañca vinā santhatā na phāsu hoti.And because I’m not comfortable without it,2.11Nāhaṁ gamissāmī”ti.I can’t go.”

2.12Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.They told the Buddha.

2.13Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

2.14“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṁ dātuṁ.“Monks, I allow you to give permission to a sick monk to make a blanket.¹

2.15Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.And it should be given like this.2.16Tena gilānena bhikkhunā saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā vuḍḍhānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—After approaching the Sangha, the sick monk should arrange his upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the senior monks. He should then squat on his heels, raise his joined palms, and say,2.17‘ahaṁ, bhante, gilāno‘Venerables, I’m sick.2.18na sakkomi santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ.I’m unable to travel with my blanket.2.19Sohaṁ, bhante, saṅghaṁ santhatasammutiṁ yācāmī’ti.I ask the Sangha for permission to make a blanket.’2.20Dutiyampi yācitabbā.And he should ask a second2.21Tatiyampi yācitabbā.and a third time.2.22Byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha:

2.37Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: