0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
0.4MusāvādavaggaThe subchapter on lying

0.54. PadasodhammasikkhāpadaInstructing a householder to memorize the Teaching

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,1.2Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū upāsake padaso dhammaṁ vācenti.the monks from the group of six were instructing lay followers to memorize the Teaching.1.3Upāsakā bhikkhūsu agāravā appatissā asabhāgavuttikā viharanti.Those lay followers became disrespectful, undeferential, and rude toward the monks.

1.4Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,1.5“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū upāsake padaso dhammaṁ vācessanti.“How can the monks from the group of six instruct lay followers to memorize the Teaching?”1.6Upāsakā bhikkhūsu agāravā appatissā asabhāgavuttikā viharantī”ti.

1.7Atha kho te bhikkhū chabbaggiye bhikkhū 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:1.8“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, upāsake padaso dhammaṁ vācetha;“Is it true, monks, that you do this?”1.9upāsakā bhikkhūsu agāravā appatissā asabhāgavuttikā viharantī”ti?

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

1.11Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.12kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, upāsake padaso dhammaṁ vācessatha.“Foolish men, how can you do this?”1.13Upāsakā bhikkhūsu agāravā appatissā asabhāgavuttikā viharanti.1.14Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya pasannānaṁ vā bhiyyobhāvāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.15evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.16.0Final ruling

1.16.1“Yo pana bhikkhu anupasampannaṁ padaso dhammaṁ vāceyya pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk instructs a person who is not fully ordained to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Yo panātiA:: 2.1.2yo yādiso …pe…whoever …
2.1.3bhikkhūtiMonk:: 2.1.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.
2.1.5Anupasampanno nāmaA person who is not fully ordained:: 2.1.6bhikkhuñca bhikkhuniñca ṭhapetvā avaseso anupasampanno nāma.anyone except a fully ordained monk or a fully ordained nun.
2.1.7PTS 4.15Padaso nāmaTo memorize:¹: 2.1.8padaṁ, anupadaṁ, anvakkharaṁ, anubyañjanaṁ.a line, the next line, the next syllable, the next phrase.
2.1.9Padaṁ nāmaA line:: 2.1.10ekato paṭṭhapetvā ekato osāpenti.they start together and finish together.
2.1.11Anupadaṁ nāmaThe next line:: 2.1.12pāṭekkaṁ paṭṭhapetvā ekato osāpenti.one of them starts, but they finish together.
2.1.13Anvakkharaṁ nāmaThe next syllable:: 2.1.14“rūpaṁ aniccan”ti vuccamāno, “run”ti opāteti.when ‘Rūpaṁ aniccaṁ’ is being said, he prompts him, saying, ‘rū’.
2.1.15Anubyañjanaṁ nāmaThe next phrase:: 2.1.16“rūpaṁ aniccan”ti vuccamāno, “vedanā aniccā”ti saddaṁ nicchāreti.when ‘Rūpaṁ aniccaṁ,’ is being said, the other says, ‘Vedanā aniccā.’

2.1.17Yañca padaṁ, yañca anupadaṁ, yañca anvakkharaṁ, yañca anubyañjanaṁ—And whatever line there is, whatever next line, whatever next syllable, whatever next phrase—2.1.18sabbametaṁ padaso nāma.this is all called “to memorize”.

2.1.19Dhammo nāmaThe Teaching:: 2.1.20buddhabhāsito, sāvakabhāsito, isibhāsito, devatābhāsito, atthūpasañhito, dhammūpasañhito.what has been spoken by the Buddha, what has been spoken by disciples, what has been spoken by sages, what has been spoken by gods, what is connected with what is beneficial, what is connected with the Teaching.
2.1.21VāceyyātiInstructs:: 2.1.22padena vāceti, pade pade āpatti pācittiyassa.if he instructs by the line, then for every line he commits an offense entailing confession.2.1.23Akkharāya vāceti, akkharakkharāya āpatti pācittiyassa.If he instructs by the syllable, then for every syllable he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Anupasampanne anupasampannasaññī padaso dhammaṁ vāceti, āpatti pācittiyassa.If the person is not fully ordained, and the monk does not perceive them as such, and he instructs them to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.2Anupasampanne vematiko padaso dhammaṁ vāceti, āpatti pācittiyassa.If the person is not fully ordained, but the monk is unsure of it, and he instructs them to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.3Anupasampanne upasampannasaññī padaso dhammaṁ vāceti, āpatti pācittiyassa.If the person is not fully ordained, but the monk perceives them as such, and he instructs them to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.4Upasampanne anupasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If the person is fully ordained, but the monk does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.²2.2.5Upasampanne vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If the person is fully ordained, but the monk is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Upasampanne upasampannasaññī, anāpatti.If the person is fully ordained, and the monk perceives them as such, there is no offense.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2ekato uddisāpento,if the recitation is done together;2.3.3ekato sajjhāyaṁ karonto,if they practice together;2.3.4yebhuyyena paguṇaṁ ganthaṁ bhaṇantaṁ opāteti,if he prompts one who is speaking a mostly familiar text;2.3.5osārentaṁ opāteti,if he prompts one who is reciting;2.3.6ummattakassa,if he is insane;2.3.7ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

2.3.8Padasodhammasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.The training rule on instructing a householder to memorize the Teaching, the fourth, is finished.

4. Instructing a lay person to memorize the Teaching