- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on plants Bhūtagāmavagga
18. The training rule on upper stories 18. Vehāsakuṭisikkhāpada
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 two monks were staying in a dwelling with an upper story belonging to the Sangha, one staying below and one above. Tena kho pana samayena dve bhikkhū saṅghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā eko heṭṭhā viharati, eko upari. The monk above sat down hastily on a bed with detachable legs. Uparimo bhikkhu āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ sahasā abhinisīdi. A leg fell off and hit the monk below on the head. Mañcapādo nippatitvā heṭṭhimassa bhikkhuno matthake avatthāsi. He cried out. So bhikkhu vissaramakāsi. Monks rushed up Bhikkhū upadhāvitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocuṁ—and asked him why, “kissa tvaṁ, āvuso, vissaramakāsī”ti? and he told them what had happened. Atha kho so bhikkhu bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.
The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
“How could a monk sit down hastily on a bed with detachable legs on an upper story in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhu saṅghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ sahasā abhinisīdissatī”ti.
After rebuking that monk in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho te bhikkhū taṁ bhikkhuṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monk, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, bhikkhu, saṅghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ sahasā abhinisīdasī”ti?
“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, saṅghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ sahasā abhinisīdissasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
Final ruling
‘If a monk sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper story in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu saṅghike vihāre uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ vā pīṭhaṁ vā abhinisīdeyya vā abhinipajjeyya vā, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yo panāti
- whoever … yo yādiso …pe…
- Monk: 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. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
- A dwelling belonging to the Sangha: Saṅghiko nāma vihāro
- given to the Sangha, given up to the Sangha. saṅghassa dinno hoti pariccatto.
- An upper story: Vehāsakuṭi nāma
- a man of average height does not hit his head. majjhimassa purisassa asīsaghaṭṭā.
- A bed with detachable legs: Āhaccapādako nāma mañco
- it stands after inserting the limbs. aṅge vijjhitvā ṭhito hoti.
- A bench with detachable legs: Āhaccapādakaṁ nāma pīṭhaṁ
- it stands after inserting the limbs. aṅge vijjhitvā ṭhitaṁ hoti.
- Sits down: Abhinisīdeyyāti
- if he sits down on it, he commits an offense entailing confession. tasmiṁ abhinisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
- Lies down: Abhinipajjeyyāti
- if he lies down on it, he commits an offense entailing confession. tasmiṁ abhinipajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If it belongs to the Sangha, and he perceives it as such, and he sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper story, he commits an offense entailing confession. Saṅghike saṅghikasaññī uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ vā pīṭhaṁ vā abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it belongs to the Sangha, but he is unsure of it … Saṅghike vematiko …pe… If it belongs to the Sangha, but he perceives it as belonging to an individual, and he sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper story, he commits an offense entailing confession. saṅghike puggalikasaññī uparivehāsakuṭiyā āhaccapādakaṁ mañcaṁ vā pīṭhaṁ vā abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it belongs to an individual, but he perceives it as belonging to the Sangha, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Puggalike saṅghikasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it belongs to an individual, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Puggalike vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it belongs to an individual, and he perceives it as such, but that individual is not himself, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Puggalike puggalikasaññī aññassa puggalike, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it belongs to himself, there is no offense. Attano puggalike, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if there is no upper story; avehāsakuṭiyā if the upper story is so low that one hits the head; sīsaghaṭṭāya if the lower story is not in use; heṭṭhā aparibhogaṁ hoti, if the upper story has floorboards; padarasañcitaṁ hoti, if the legs are fastened by bolts; paṭāṇi dinnā hoti, if he stands on it to get hold of something or to put something up; tasmiṁ ṭhito gaṇhati vā laggeti vā, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on upper stories, the eighth, is finished. Vehāsakuṭisikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.