Origin story

First sub-story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. a family that was supporting Venerable Upananda the Sakyan had invited him to a meal, Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa upaṭṭhākakulaṁ āyasmantaṁ upanandaṁ sakyaputtaṁ bhattena nimantesi. and they had invited other monks too. Aññepi bhikkhū bhattena nimantesi. But since Upananda was visiting other families before that meal, Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā upanando sakyaputto purebhattaṁ, kulāni payirupāsati. the other monks said to that family, Atha kho te bhikkhū te manusse etadavocuṁ—“Please give the meal.” “dethāvuso, bhattan”ti.

“Please wait, sirs, until Venerable Upananda arrives.” “Āgametha, bhante, yāvāyyo upanando āgacchatī”ti.

A second time … Dutiyampi kho te bhikkhū …pe… A third time those monks said, tatiyampi kho te bhikkhū te manusse etadavocuṁ—“Please give the meal before it is too late.” “dethāvuso, bhattaṁ; pure kālo atikkamatī”ti.

“But we prepared the meal because of Venerable Upananda. “Yampi mayaṁ, bhante, bhattaṁ karimhā ayyassa upanandassa kāraṇā. Please wait until he arrives.” Āgametha, bhante, yāvāyyo upanando āgacchatī”ti.

Then, after visiting those families, Upananda arrived late, Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto purebhattaṁ kulāni payirupāsitvā divā āgacchati. and those monks did not eat as much as they had intended. Bhikkhū na cittarūpaṁ bhuñjiṁsu. The monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Upananda visit families first when invited to a meal?” … “kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, Upananda, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, upananda, nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjasī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjissasi. 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—

First preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjeyya, 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 a family that was supporting Upananda sent fresh food to the Sangha. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato upanandassa sakyaputtassa upaṭṭhākakulaṁ saṅghassatthāya khādanīyaṁ pāhesi—They instructed that the food should be shown to Upananda and then given to the Sangha. “ayyassa upanandassa dassetvā saṅghassa dātabban”ti.

But on that occasion Upananda had gone to the village for alms. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā upanando sakyaputto gāmaṁ piṇḍāya paviṭṭho hoti. When those people arrived at the monastery, Atha kho te manussā ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhū pucchiṁsu—they asked for Upananda, “kahaṁ, bhante, ayyo upanando”ti? and they were told where he was. “Esāvuso, āyasmā upanando sakyaputto gāmaṁ piṇḍāya paviṭṭho”ti. They said, “Venerables, after showing it to Venerable Upananda, this fresh food is to be given to the Sangha.” “Idaṁ, bhante, khādanīyaṁ ayyassa upanandassa dassetvā saṅghassa dātabban”ti. The monks told the Buddha, Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. who then gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—“Well then, monks, receive it and put it aside until Upananda returns.” “tena hi, bhikkhave, paṭiggahetvā nikkhipatha yāva upanando āgacchatī”ti.

When he heard that the Buddha had prohibited visiting families before the meal, Upananda visited them after the meal instead. As a consequence, he returned late to the monastery, and the food had to be returned to the donors. Atha kho āyasmā upanando sakyaputto—“bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ purebhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjitun”ti pacchābhattaṁ kulāni payirupāsitvā divā paṭikkami, khādanīyaṁ ussāriyittha.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Upananda visit families after the meal?” … “kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto pacchābhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, Upananda, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, upananda, pacchābhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjasī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, pacchābhattaṁ kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjissasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ vā pacchābhattaṁ vā kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

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

Third sub-story

Soon afterwards it was the robe-giving season. But being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not visit families. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū cīvaradānasamaye kukkuccāyantā kulāni na payirupāsanti. As a result, they only got a small amount of robe-cloth. Cīvaraṁ parittaṁ uppajjati. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

“Monks, I allow you to visit families during the robe-giving season. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, cīvaradānasamaye kulāni payirupāsituṁ.

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

Third preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ vā pacchābhattaṁ vā kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. This is the appropriate occasion: it is the robe-giving season.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Cīvaradānasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

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

Fourth sub-story

Soon afterwards the monks were making robes, and they needed a needle, thread, and scissors. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū cīvarakammaṁ karonti, attho ca hoti sūciyāpi suttenapi satthakenapi. But being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not visit families. Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā kulāni na payirupāsanti. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

“Monks, I allow you to visit families at a time of making robes. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, cīvarakārasamaye kulāni payirupāsituṁ.

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

Fourth preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu nimantito sabhatto samāno purebhattaṁ vā pacchābhattaṁ vā kulesu cārittaṁ āpajjeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. These are the appropriate occasions: it is the robe-giving season; it is a time of making robes.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Cīvaradānasamayo, cīvarakārasamayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

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

Fifth sub-story

Soon afterwards there were sick monks who needed medicines. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū gilānā honti, attho ca hoti bhesajjehi. But being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not visit families. Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā kulāni na payirupāsanti. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

“Monks, I allow you to visit families after informing an available monk. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, santaṁ bhikkhuṁ āpucchā kulāni payirupāsituṁ.

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