Origin story

First sub-story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a certain association was preparing an almsmeal at a public guesthouse not far from Sāvatthī. Tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyā avidūre aññatarassa pūgassa āvasathapiṇḍo paññatto hoti.

Then, after robing up in the morning, the monks from the group of six took their bowls and robes and entered Sāvatthī for alms. Not getting anything, they went to that public guesthouse. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisitvā piṇḍaṁ alabhamānā āvasathaṁ agamaṁsu. Because it was a long time since they had been there, people served them respectfully. Manussā—“cirassampi bhadantā āgatā”ti sakkaccaṁ parivisiṁsu.

A second and a third day those monks did the same thing. Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū dutiyampi divasaṁ …pe… tatiyampi divasaṁ pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisitvā piṇḍaṁ alabhamānā āvasathaṁ gantvā bhuñjiṁsu. Then they thought, Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi—“What’s the point of returning to the monastery? “kiṁ mayaṁ karissāma ārāmaṁ gantvā. Tomorrow we’ll just have to come back here.” Hiyyopi idheva āgantabbaṁ bhavissatī”ti, So they stayed on and on right there, eating alms at the guesthouse, tattheva anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjanti. while the monastics of other religions left. Titthiyā apasakkanti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics stay on and on, eating alms at the guesthouse? “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjissanti. We don’t prepare the almsfood just for them; Nayimesaññeva āvasathapiṇḍo paññatto; we prepare it for everyone.” sabbesaññeva āvasathapiṇḍo paññatto”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the monks from the group of six stay on and on, eating alms at a public guesthouse?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjathā”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjissatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk eats more than one almsmeal at a public guesthouse, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Eko āvasathapiṇḍo bhuñjitabbo. Tato ce uttari bhuñjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

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

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards Venerable Sāriputta was traveling through the Kosalan country on his way to Sāvatthī when he came to a public guesthouse. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā sāriputto kosalesu janapade sāvatthiṁ gacchanto yena aññataro āvasatho tenupasaṅkami. Because it was a long time since he had been there, people served him respectfully. Manussā—“cirassampi thero āgato”ti sakkaccaṁ parivisiṁsu. After he had eaten, Sāriputta became severely ill, and he was unable to leave that guesthouse. Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa bhuttāvissa kharo ābādho uppajji, nāsakkhi tamhā āvasathā pakkamituṁ.

On the second day, too, those people said to him, Atha kho te manussā dutiyampi divasaṁ āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavocuṁ—“Please eat, venerable.” “bhuñjatha, bhante”ti. But since he knew that Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto—the Buddha had prohibited eating alms at a public guesthouse after staying on and on, and because he was afraid of wrongdoing, he did not accept. “bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjitun”ti kukkuccāyanto na paṭiggahesi; As a consequence, he missed his meal. chinnabhatto ahosi.

When he arrived at Sāvatthī, he told the monks what had happened, Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. and they in turn told the Buddha. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.

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

“Monks, I allow a sick monk to stay on at a public guesthouse and eat alms there. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā anuvasitvā anuvasitvā āvasathapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjituṁ.

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