Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Āḷavī at the Aggāḷava Shrine. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye. At that time the lay followers were coming to the monastery to listen to the Teaching. Tena kho pana samayena upāsakā ārāmaṁ āgacchanti dhammassavanāya. When the instruction was over, the senior monks went to their own dwellings, Dhamme bhāsite therā bhikkhū yathāvihāraṁ gacchanti. but the newly ordained monks lay down right there in the assembly hall together with the lay followers—absentminded, heedless, naked, muttering, and snoring. Navakā bhikkhū tattheva upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ upāsakehi saddhiṁ muṭṭhassatī, asampajānā, naggā, vikūjamānā, kākacchamānā seyyaṁ kappenti. The lay followers complained and criticized them, Upāsakā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the venerables lie down absentminded, heedless, naked, muttering, and snoring?” “kathañhi nāma bhadantā muṭṭhassatī asampajānā naggā vikūjamānā kākacchamānā seyyaṁ kappessantī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those lay followers, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ upāsakānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can monks lie down in the same sleeping place as people who are not fully ordained?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū anupasampannena sahaseyyaṁ kappessantī”ti.

After rebuking those newly ordained monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho te bhikkhū te navake bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that monks did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anupasampannena sahaseyyaṁ kappentī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could those foolish men do this? kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā anupasampannena sahaseyyaṁ kappessanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, 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 lies down in the same sleeping place as a person who is not fully ordained, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu anupasampannena sahaseyyaṁ kappeyya pācittiyan”ti.

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

Second sub-story

After staying at Āḷavī for as long as he wanted, the Buddha set out wandering toward Kosambī. Atha kho bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena kosambī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. When he eventually arrived, he stayed at the Badarikā Monastery. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena kosambī tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati badarikārāme.

Just then the monks there said to Venerable Rāhula, Bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ etadavocuṁ—“Rāhula, the Buddha has laid down a training rule that we can’t lie down in the same sleeping place as a person who’s not fully ordained. “bhagavatā, āvuso rāhula, sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ—‘na anupasampannena sahaseyyā kappetabbā’ti. Please find another sleeping place.” Seyyaṁ, āvuso rāhula, jānāhī”ti. Since Rāhula was not able to find a sleeping place, he lay down in the restroom. Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo seyyaṁ alabhamāno vaccakuṭiyā seyyaṁ kappesi.

Then, after rising early in the morning, the Buddha went to the restroom where he cleared his throat. Atha kho bhagavā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya yena vaccakuṭi tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ukkāsi. Rāhula, too, cleared his throat. Āyasmāpi rāhulo ukkāsi.

“Who’s there?” “Ko etthā”ti?

“It’s me, sir, Rāhula.” “Ahaṁ, bhagavā, rāhulo”ti.

“Why are you sitting here, Rāhula?” “Kissa tvaṁ, rāhula, idha nisinnosī”ti?

Rāhula told the Buddha what had happened. Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesi. 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 you to lie down in the same sleeping place as a person who isn’t fully ordained for two or three nights. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, anupasampannena dirattatirattaṁ sahaseyyaṁ kappetuṁ.

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