Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the bad and shameless monks Assaji and Punabbasuka were staying at Kīṭāgiri. Tena kho pana samayena assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā honti alajjino pāpabhikkhū. They were misbehaving in many ways. Te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—

They planted flowering trees, watered and plucked them, and then tied the flowers together. mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi, ocinantipi ocināpentipi, ganthentipi ganthāpentipi, They made the flowers into garlands, garlands with stalks on one side and garlands with stalks on both sides. ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, They made flower arrangements, wreaths, ornaments for the head, ornaments for the ears, and ornaments for the chest. And they had others do the same. mañjarikaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, vidhūtikaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, āveḷaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi, uracchadaṁ karontipi kārāpentipi. They then took these things, or sent them, to the women, the daughters, the girls, the daughters-in-law, and the female slaves of good families. Te kulitthīnaṁ kuladhītānaṁ kulakumārīnaṁ kulasuṇhānaṁ kuladāsīnaṁ ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, mañjarikaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, vidhūtikaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, āveḷaṁ harantipi harāpentipi, uracchadaṁ harantipi harāpentipi.

They ate from the same plates as these women and drank from the same vessels. Te kulitthīhi kuladhītāhi kulakumārīhi kulasuṇhāhi kuladāsīhi saddhiṁ ekabhājanepi bhuñjanti, ekathālakepi pivanti, They sat on the same seats as them, and they lay down on the same beds, on the same sheets, under the same covers, and both on the same sheets and under the same covers. ekāsanepi nisīdanti, ekamañcepi tuvaṭṭenti, ekattharaṇāpi tuvaṭṭenti, ekapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭenti, ekattharaṇapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭenti, They ate at the wrong time, drank alcohol, and wore garlands, perfumes, and cosmetics. vikālepi bhuñjanti, majjampi pivanti, mālāgandhavilepanampi dhārenti, They danced, sang, played instruments, and performed. naccantipi gāyantipi vādentipi lāsentipi, While the women were dancing, singing, playing instruments, and performing, so would they. naccantiyāpi naccanti, naccantiyāpi gāyanti, naccantiyāpi vādenti, naccantiyāpi lāsenti, gāyantiyāpi naccanti, gāyantiyāpi gāyanti, gāyantiyāpi vādenti, gāyantiyāpi lāsenti, vādentiyāpi naccanti, vādentiyāpi gāyanti, vādentiyāpi vādenti, vādentiyāpi lāsenti, lāsentiyāpi naccanti, lāsentiyāpi gāyanti, lāsentiyāpi vādenti, lāsentiyāpi lāsenti;

They played various games: eight-row checkers, ten-row checkers, imaginary checkers, hopscotch, pick-up-sticks, board games, tipcat, painting with the hand, dice, leaf flutes, toy plows, somersaults, pinwheels, toy measures, toy carriages, toy bows, guessing from syllables, thought guessing, mimicking deformities. aṭṭhapadepi kīḷanti, dasapadepi kīḷanti, ākāsepi kīḷanti, parihārapathepi kīḷanti, santikāyapi kīḷanti, khalikāyapi kīḷanti, ghaṭikāyapi kīḷanti, salākahatthenapi kīḷanti, akkhenapi kīḷanti, paṅgacīrenapi kīḷanti, vaṅkakenapi kīḷanti, mokkhacikāyapi kīḷanti, ciṅgulakenapi kīḷanti, pattāḷhakenapi kīḷanti, rathakenapi kīḷanti, dhanukenapi kīḷanti, akkharikāyapi kīḷanti, manesikāyapi kīḷanti, yathāvajjenapi kīḷanti.

They trained in elephant riding, in horsemanship, in carriage riding, in archery, in swordsmanship. Hatthismimpi sikkhanti, assasmimpi sikkhanti, rathasmimpi sikkhanti, dhanusmimpi sikkhanti, tharusmimpi sikkhanti, And they ran in front of elephants, horses, and carriages, and they ran backward and forward. hatthissapi purato dhāvanti, assassapi purato dhāvanti, rathassapi purato dhāvantipi ādhāvantipi, They whistled, clapped their hands, wrestled, and boxed. usseḷentipi, apphoṭentipi, nibbujjhantipi, muṭṭhīhipi yujjhanti, They spread their outer robe on a stage and said to the dancing girls, “Dance here, Sister,” and they made gestures of approval. And they misbehaved in a variety of ways. raṅgamajjhepi saṅghāṭiṁ pattharitvā naccakiṁ evaṁ vadanti—“idha, bhagini, naccassū”ti, nalāṭikampi denti, vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti.

Just then a monk who had completed the rainy-season residence in Kāsi was on his way to visit the Buddha at Sāvatthī when he arrived at Kīṭāgiri. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kāsīsu vassaṁvuṭṭho sāvatthiṁ gacchanto bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, yena kīṭāgiri tadavasari. In the morning he robed up, took his bowl and robe, and entered Kīṭāgiri to collect almsfood. Atha kho so bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kīṭāgiriṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi He was pleasing in his conduct: in going out and coming back, in looking ahead and looking aside, in bending and stretching his arms. His eyes were lowered, and he was perfect in deportment. pāsādikena abhikkantena paṭikkantena ālokitena vilokitena samiñjitena pasāritena okkhittacakkhu iriyāpathasampanno. When people saw him, they said, “Who’s this, acting like a moron and always frowning? Who’s gonna give almsfood to him? Almsfood should be given to our Venerables Assaji and Punabbasuka, for they are gentle, congenial, pleasant to speak with, greeting one with a smile, welcoming, friendly, open, the first to speak.” Manussā taṁ bhikkhuṁ passitvā evamāhaṁsu—“kvāyaṁ abalabalo viya mandamando viya bhākuṭikabhākuṭiko viya? Ko imassa upagatassa piṇḍakaṁ dassati? Amhākaṁ pana ayyā assajipunabbasukā saṇhā sakhilā sukhasambhāsā mihitapubbaṅgamā ehisvāgatavādino abbhākuṭikā uttānamukhā pubbabhāsino. Tesaṁ kho nāma piṇḍo dātabbo”ti.

A certain lay follower saw that monk walking for alms in Kīṭāgiri. Addasā kho aññataro upāsako taṁ bhikkhuṁ kīṭāgirismiṁ piṇḍāya carantaṁ. He approached him, bowed, and said, “Venerable, have you received any almsfood?” Disvāna yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā etadavoca—“api, bhante, piṇḍo labbhatī”ti?

“No, I haven’t.” “Na kho, āvuso, piṇḍo labbhatī”ti.

“Come, let’s go to my house.” “Ehi, bhante, gharaṁ gamissāmā”ti.

He took that monk to his house and gave him a meal. Atha kho so upāsako taṁ bhikkhuṁ gharaṁ netvā bhojetvā etadavoca—He then said, “Where are you going, venerable?” “kahaṁ, bhante, ayyo gamissatī”ti?

“I’m going to Sāvatthī to see the Buddha.” “Sāvatthiṁ kho ahaṁ, āvuso, gamissāmi bhagavantaṁ dassanāyā”ti.

“Well then, would you please pay respect at the Buddha’s feet in my name and say, “Tena hi, bhante, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda, evañca vadehi—‘Sir, the monastery at Kīṭāgiri has been corrupted. ‘duṭṭho, bhante, kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso. The bad and shameless monks Assaji and Punabbasuka are staying there. Assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā alajjino pāpabhikkhū. And they’re misbehaving in many ways. Te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—They plant flowering trees, water them … And they misbehave in a variety of ways. mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi …pe… vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti. Those who previously had faith and confidence have now lost it, Yepi te, bhante, manussā pubbe saddhā ahesuṁ pasannā tepi etarahi assaddhā appasannā. and there’s no longer any support for the Sangha. Yānipi tāni saṅghassa pubbe dānapathāni tānipi etarahi upacchinnāni. The good monks have left and the bad monks are staying on. Riñcanti pesalā bhikkhū, nivasanti pāpabhikkhū. Sir, please send monks to stay at the monastery at Kīṭāgiri.’” Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā kīṭāgiriṁ bhikkhū pahiṇeyya yathāyaṁ kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso saṇṭhaheyyā’”ti.

The monk consented, got up, and set out for Sāvatthī. “Evamāvuso”ti kho so bhikkhu tassa upāsakassa paṭissutvā yena sāvatthi tena pakkāmi. When he eventually arrived, he went to the Buddha in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. He bowed to the Buddha and sat down. Anupubbena yena sāvatthi jetavanaṁ anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāmo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Since it is the custom for Buddhas to greet newly-arrived monks, Āciṇṇaṁ kho panetaṁ buddhānaṁ bhagavantānaṁ āgantukehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ paṭisammodituṁ. the Buddha said to him, Atha kho bhagavā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—“I hope you’re keeping well, monk, I hope you’re getting by? “kacci, bhikkhu, khamanīyaṁ kacci yāpanīyaṁ, I hope you’re not tired from traveling? kaccisi appakilamathena addhānaṁ āgato, And where have you come from?” kuto ca tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āgacchasī”ti?

“I’m keeping well, sir, I’m getting by. “Khamanīyaṁ, bhagavā, yāpanīyaṁ, bhagavā. I’m not tired from traveling.” Appakilamathena cāhaṁ, bhante, addhānaṁ āgato. He then told the Buddha all that had happened at Kīṭāgiri, Idhāhaṁ, bhante, kāsīsu vassaṁvuṭṭho sāvatthiṁ āgacchanto bhagavantaṁ dassanāya yena kīṭāgiri tadavasariṁ. Atha khvāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kīṭāgiriṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ. Addasā kho maṁ, bhante, aññataro upāsako kīṭāgirismiṁ piṇḍāya carantaṁ. Disvāna yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā etadavoca—‘api, bhante, piṇḍo labbhatī’ti?

‘Na kho, āvuso, piṇḍo labbhatī’ti.

‘Ehi, bhante, gharaṁ gamissāmā’ti.

Atha kho, bhante, so upāsako maṁ gharaṁ netvā bhojetvā etadavoca—‘kahaṁ, bhante, ayyo gamissatī’ti?

‘Sāvatthiṁ kho ahaṁ, āvuso, gamissāmi bhagavantaṁ dassanāyā’ti.

Tena hi, bhante, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda, evañca vadehi—‘duṭṭho, bhante, kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso, assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā alajjino pāpabhikkhū. Te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi …pe… vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti. Yepi te, bhante, manussā pubbe saddhā ahesuṁ pasannā tepi etarahi assaddhā appasannā, yānipi tāni saṅghassa pubbe dānapathāni tānipi etarahi upacchinnāni, riñcanti pesalā bhikkhū nivasanti pāpabhikkhū. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā kīṭāgiriṁ bhikkhū pahiṇeyya yathāyaṁ kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāso saṇṭhaheyyā’ti. adding, “That’s where I’ve come from, sir.” Tato ahaṁ, bhagavā, āgacchāmī”ti.

Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā bhikkhū paṭipucchi—“Is it true, monks, that the bad and shameless monks Assaji and Punabbasuka are staying at Kīṭāgiri and misbehaving like this? “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, assajipunabbasukā nāma kīṭāgirismiṁ āvāsikā alajjino pāpabhikkhū te evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācaranti—mālāvacchaṁ ropentipi ropāpentipi, siñcantipi siñcāpentipi …pe… vividhampi anācāraṁ ācaranti, And is it true that those people who previously had faith and confidence have now lost it, yepi te, bhikkhave, manussā pubbe saddhā ahesuṁ pasannā tepi etarahi assaddhā appasannā; that there’s no longer any support for the Sangha, yānipi tāni saṅghassa pubbe dānapathāni tānipi etarahi upacchinnāni; and that the good monks have left and the bad monks are staying on?” riñcanti pesalā bhikkhū nivasanti pāpabhikkhū”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Monks, how can those foolish men misbehave in this way? kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā evarūpaṁ anācāraṁ ācarissanti—mālāvacchaṁ ropessantipi ropāpessantipi, sañcissantipi siñcāpessantipi, ocinissantipi ocināpessantipi, ganthissantipi ganthāpessantipi, ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, mañjarikaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, vidhūtikaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, āveḷaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi, uracchadaṁ karissantipi kārāpessantipi. Te kulitthīnaṁ kuladhītānaṁ kulakumārīnaṁ kulasuṇhānaṁ kuladāsīnaṁ ekatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, ubhatovaṇṭikamālaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, mañjarikaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, vidhūtikaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, vaṭaṁsakaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, āveḷaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi, uracchadaṁ harissantipi hārāpessantipi. Te kulitthīhi kuladhītāhi kulakumārīhi kulasuṇhāhi kuladāsīhi saddhiṁ ekabhājanepi bhuñjissanti, ekathālakepi pivissanti, ekāsanepi nisīdissanti, ekamañcepi tuvaṭṭissanti, ekattharaṇāpi tuvaṭṭissanti, ekapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭissanti, ekattharaṇapāvuraṇāpi tuvaṭṭissanti, vikālepi bhuñjissanti, majjampi pivissanti, mālāgandhavilepanampi dhārissanti naccissantipi gāyissantipi vādessantipi lāsessantipi, naccantiyāpi naccissanti naccantiyāpi gāyissanti naccantiyāpi vādessanti naccantiyāpi lāsessanti, gāyantiyāpi naccissanti gāyantiyāpi gāyissanti gāyantiyāpi vādessanti gāyantiyāpi lāsessanti, vādentiyāpi naccissanti vādentiyāpi gāyissanti vādentiyāpi vādessanti vādentiyāpi lāsessanti, lāsentiyāpi naccissanti lāsentiyāpi gāyissanti lāsentiyāpi vādessanti lāsentiyāpi lāsessanti

aṭṭhapadepi kīḷissanti dasapadepi kīḷissanti, ākāsepi kīḷissanti, parihārapathepi kīḷissanti, santikāyapi kīḷissanti, khalikāyapi kīḷissanti, ghaṭikāyapi kīḷissanti, salākahatthenapi kīḷissanti, akkhenapi kīḷissanti, paṅgacīrenapi kīḷissanti, vaṅkakenapi kīḷissanti, mokkhacikāyapi kīḷissanti, ciṅgulakenapi kīḷissanti, pattāḷhakenapi kīḷissanti, rathakenapi kīḷissanti, dhanukenapi kīḷissanti, akkharikāyapi kīḷissanti, manesikāyapi kīḷissanti, yathāvajjenapi kīḷissanti,

hatthismimpi sikkhissanti, assasmimpi sikkhissanti, rathasmimpi sikkhissanti, dhanusmimpi sikkhissanti, tharusmimpi sikkhissanti, hatthissapi purato dhāvissanti, assassapi purato dhāvissanti, rathassapi purato dhāvissantipi ādhāvissantipi usseḷessantipi, apphoṭessantipi, nibbujjhissantipi, muṭṭhīhipi yujjhissanti, raṅgamajjhepi saṅghāṭiṁ pattharitvā naccakiṁ evaṁ vakkhanti “idha, bhagini, naccassū”ti nalāṭikampi dassanti, vividhampi anācāraṁ ācarissanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… He then gave a teaching and addressed Sāriputta and Moggallāna: vigarahitvā dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā sāriputtamoggallāne āmantesi—“Go to Kīṭāgiri and do a legal procedure of banishing the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka. They’re your students.” “gacchatha tumhe, sāriputtā, kīṭāgiriṁ gantvā assajipunabbasukānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ kīṭāgirismā pabbājanīyakammaṁ karotha. Tumhākaṁ ete saddhivihārikā”ti.

“Sir, how can we do a procedure of banishing these monks from Kīṭāgiri? They’re temperamental and harsh.” “Kathaṁ mayaṁ, bhante, assajipunabbasukānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ kīṭāgirismā pabbājanīyakammaṁ karoma? Caṇḍā te bhikkhū pharusā”ti.

“Well then, take many monks.” “Tena hi tumhe, sāriputtā, bahukehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ gacchathā”ti.

“Yes, sir.” “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho sāriputtamoggallānā bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“And, monks, this is how it should be done. “Evañca pana, bhikkhave, kātabbaṁ. First you should accuse the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka. Paṭhamaṁ assajipunabbasukā bhikkhū codetabbā. They should then be reminded of what they have done, before they are charged with an offense. Codetvā sāretabbā. Sāretvā āpattiṁ ropetabbā. A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha: Āpattiṁ ropetvā byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—

Soon afterwards a sangha of monks, headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna, went to Kīṭāgiri and did the procedure of banishing Assaji and Punabbasuka, prohibiting them from staying at Kīṭāgiri. Atha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho kīṭāgiriṁ gantvā assajipunabbasukānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ kīṭāgirismā pabbājanīyakammaṁ akāsi—“na assajipunabbasukehi bhikkhūhi kīṭāgirismiṁ vatthabban”ti. After the Sangha had done the procedure, those monks did not conduct themselves properly or suitably so as to deserve to be released, nor did they ask the monks for forgiveness. Instead they abused and reviled them, and they slandered them as acting from favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear. And they left and they disrobed. Te saṅghena pabbājanīyakammakatā na sammā vattanti, na lomaṁ pātenti, na netthāraṁ vattanti, na bhikkhū khamāpenti, akkosanti paribhāsanti chandagāmitā dosagāmitā mohagāmitā bhayagāmitā pāpenti, pakkamantipi, vibbhamantipi. The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can these monks act in this way when the Sangha has done a legal procedure of banishing them?” “kathañhi nāma assajipunabbasukā bhikkhū saṅghena pabbājanīyakammakatā na sammā vattissanti, na lomaṁ pātessanti, na netthāraṁ vattissanti, na bhikkhū khamāpessanti, akkosissanti paribhāsissanti, chandagāmitā dosagāmitā mohagāmitā bhayagāmitā pāpessanti pakkamissantipi vibbhamissantipī”ti.

They rebuked the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka in many ways and then told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho te bhikkhū assajipunabbasuke bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the monks Assaji and Punabbasuka acted in this way?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, assajipunabbasukā bhikkhū saṅghena pabbājanīyakammakatā na sammā vattanti …pe… vibbhamantipī”ti? “It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—