- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on naked ascetics Acelakavagga
47. The training rule on Mahānāma 47. Mahānāmasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Mahānāma the Sakyan had an abundance of tonics. Tena kho pana samayena mahānāmassa sakkassa bhesajjaṁ ussannaṁ hoti. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca—“Sir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for four months.” “icchāmahaṁ, bhante, saṅghaṁ catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavāretun”ti.
“Good, good, Mahānāma. “Sādhu sādhu, mahānāma. Please do so.” Tena hi tvaṁ, mahānāma, saṅghaṁ catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavārehī”ti.
But the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti. They then told the Buddha what had happened. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…
“Monks, I allow you to accept an invitation to ask for tonics for four months.” anujānāmi, bhikkhave, catumāsaṁ bhesajjappaccayapavāraṇaṁ sāditun”ti.
Yet the monks only asked Mahānāma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ parittaṁ bhesajjaṁ viññāpenti. Tatheva mahānāmassa sakkassa bhesajjaṁ ussannaṁ hoti. A second time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Dutiyampi kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca—“Sir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for a further four months.” “icchāmahaṁ, bhante, saṅghaṁ aparampi catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavāretun”ti.
“Good, good, Mahānāma. “Sādhu sādhu, mahānāma. Please do so.” Tena hi tvaṁ, mahānāma, saṅghaṁ aparampi catumāsaṁ bhesajjena pavārehī”ti.
Again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…
“Monks, I allow you to accept a further invitation.” anujānāmi, bhikkhave, puna pavāraṇampi sāditun”ti.
Once again the monks only asked Mahānāma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ parittaṁyeva bhesajjaṁ viññāpenti. Tatheva mahānāmassa sakkassa bhesajjaṁ ussannaṁ hoti. A third time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, Tatiyampi kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca—“Sir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for life.” “icchāmahaṁ, bhante, saṅghaṁ yāvajīvaṁ bhesajjena pavāretun”ti.
“Good, good, Mahānāma. “Sādhu sādhu, mahānāma. Please do so.” Tena hi tvaṁ, mahānāma, saṅghaṁ yāvajīvaṁ bhesajjena pavārehī”ti.
Yet again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. Bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti. They told the Buddha. … Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…
“Monks, I allow you to accept a permanent invitation.” anujānāmi, bhikkhave, niccapavāraṇampi sāditun”ti.
At that time the monks from the group of six were shabbily dressed and improper in appearance. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū dunnivatthā honti duppārutā anākappasampannā. Mahānāma criticized them, “Venerables, why are you shabbily dressed and improper in appearance? Mahānāmo sakko vattā hoti—“kissa tumhe, bhante, dunnivatthā duppārutā anākappasampannā? Shouldn’t one who has gone forth be suitably dressed and proper in appearance?” Nanu nāma pabbajitena sunivatthena bhavitabbaṁ supārutena ākappasampannenā”ti?
The monks from the group of six developed a grudge against Mahānāma. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū mahānāme sakke upanandhiṁsu. Thinking of ways to humiliate him, it occurred to them, Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi—“kena nu kho mayaṁ upāyena mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ maṅkuṁ kareyyāmā”ti? Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi—“Mahānāma has invited the Sangha to ask for tonics. Let’s ask him for ghee.” “mahānāmena kho, āvuso, sakkena saṅgho bhesajjena pavārito. Handa mayaṁ, āvuso, mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ sappiṁ viññāpemā”ti.
They then went to Mahānāma and said, “We need a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>doṇa</i> measure of ghee.” Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū yena mahānāmo sakko tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavocuṁ—“doṇena, āvuso, sappinā attho”ti.
“Please wait until tomorrow. “Ajjaṇho, bhante, āgametha. People have gone to the cow-pen to get ghee. Manussā vajaṁ gatā sappiṁ āharituṁ. You may come and get it in the morning.” Kālaṁ āharissathā”ti.
A second time Dutiyampi kho …pe… and a third time the monks from the group of six said the same thing, tatiyampi kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavocuṁ—“doṇena, āvuso, sappinā attho”ti. and Mahānāma replied as before. “Ajjaṇho, bhante, āgametha. Manussā vajaṁ gatā sappiṁ āharituṁ. Kālaṁ āharissathā”ti. They then said, “Why do you give an invitation if you don’t wish to give?” “Kiṁ pana tayā, āvuso, adātukāmena pavāritena, yaṁ tvaṁ pavāretvā na desī”ti.
Mahānāma complained and criticized them, “How can they not wait for one day when asked?” Atha kho mahānāmo sakko ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“kathañhi nāma bhadantā—‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā’ti vuccamānā nāgamessantī”ti.
The monks heard the complaints of Mahānāma, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū mahānāmassa sakkassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. 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 not wait for one day when asked by Mahānāma?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū mahānāmena sakkena—‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā’ti vuccamānā nāgamessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you acted like this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, mahānāmena sakkena—‘ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā’ti vuccamānā nāgamethā”ti?
“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how could you act like this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, mahānāmena sakkena—“ajjaṇho, bhante, āgamethā”ti vuccamānā nāgamessatha. 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—
Final ruling
‘A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months. If he accepts one beyond that limit, except if it is a further invitation or a permanent invitation, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Agilānena bhikkhunā catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā sāditabbā, aññatra punapavāraṇāya, aññatra niccapavāraṇāya; tato ce uttari sādiyeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months: Agilānena bhikkhunā catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā sāditabbāti
- he may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for the sick. gilānappaccayapavāraṇā sāditabbā.
- He may also accept a further invitation: Punapavāraṇāpi sāditabbāti
- he should think, “I’ll ask when I’m sick.” yadā gilāno bhavissāmi tadā viññāpessāmīti.
- He may also accept a permanent invitation: Niccapavāraṇāpi sāditabbāti
- he should think, “I’ll ask when I’m sick.” yadā gilāno bhavissāmi tadā viññāpessāmīti.
- If he accepts one beyond that limit: Tato ce uttari sādiyeyyāti
- there are invitations that have a limit on the tonics, but no limit on the time period; atthi pavāraṇā bhesajjapariyantā na rattipariyantā, there are invitations that have a limit on the time period, but no limit on the tonics; atthi pavāraṇā rattipariyantā na bhesajjapariyantā, there are invitations that have a limit on both the tonics and the time period; atthi pavāraṇā bhesajjapariyantā ca rattipariyantā ca, there are invitations that have neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period. atthi pavāraṇā neva bhesajjapariyantā na rattipariyantā.
- Limit on the tonics: Bhesajjapariyantā nāma
- the tonics are restricted: “I invite you to ask for these particular tonics.” bhesajjāni pariggahitāni honti—“ettakehi bhesajjehi pavāremī”ti.
- Limit on the time period: Rattipariyantā nāma
- the time period is restricted: “I invite you to ask during this particular period of time.” rattiyo pariggahitāyo honti—“ettakāsu rattīsu pavāremī”ti.
- Limit on both the tonics and the time period: Bhesajjapariyantā ca rattipariyantā ca nāma
- both the tonics and the time period are restricted: “I invite you to ask for these particular tonics during this particular period of time.” bhesajjāni ca pariggahitāni honti rattiyo ca pariggahitāyo honti—“ettakehi bhesajjehi ettakāsu rattīsu pavāremī”ti.
- Neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period: Neva bhesajjapariyantā na rattipariyantā nāma
- neither the tonics nor the time period is restricted. bhesajjāni ca apariggahitāni honti rattiyo ca apariggahitāyo honti.
When there is a limit on the tonics, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhesajjapariyante—yehi bhesajjehi pavārito hoti tāni bhesajjāni ṭhapetvā aññāni bhesajjāni viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. When there is a limit on the time period, if he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. Rattipariyante—yāsu rattīsu pavārito hoti, tā rattiyo ṭhapetvā aññāsu rattīsu viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. When there is a limit on both the tonics and on the time period, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for or he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhesajjapariyante ca rattipariyante ca—yehi bhesajjehi pavārito hoti, tāni bhesajjāni ṭhapetvā yāsu rattīsu pavārito hoti, tā rattiyo ṭhapetvā aññāni bhesajjāni aññāsu rattīsu viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. When there is neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period, there is no offense. Neva bhesajjapariyante na rattipariyante, anāpatti.
If he asks for tonics when he has no need for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Na bhesajjena karaṇīyena bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he asks for a tonic other than the tonic he needs, he commits an offense entailing confession. Aññena bhesajjena karaṇīyena aññaṁ bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If it is beyond the limit, and he perceives it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari tatuttarisaññī bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari vematiko bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is beyond the limit, but he does not perceive it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. Tatuttari natatuttarisaññī bhesajjaṁ viññāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is not beyond the limit, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Natatuttari tatuttarisaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Natatuttari vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not beyond the limit, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense. Natatuttari natatuttarisaññī, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he asks for those tonics for which he was invited to ask; yehi bhesajjehi pavārito hoti tāni bhesajjāni viññāpeti, if he asks during the time period for which he was invited to ask; yāsu rattīsu pavārito hoti tāsu rattīsu viññāpeti, if he asks by informing, “You have invited me to ask for these tonics, but I need such-and-such a tonic;” “imehi tayā bhesajjehi pavāritāmha, amhākañca iminā ca iminā ca bhesajjena attho”ti ācikkhitvā viññāpeti, if he asks by informing, “The time period during which you invited me to ask has passed, but I need tonics;” “yāsu tayā rattīsu pavāritāmha tāyo ca rattiyo vītivattā amhākañca bhesajjena attho”ti ācikkhitvā viññāpeti, if it is from relatives; ñātakānaṁ if it is from those who have given an invitation; pavāritānaṁ, if it is for the benefit of someone else; aññassatthāya, if it is by means of his own property; attano dhanena, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on Mahānāma, the seventh, is finished. Mahānāmasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.