- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on legitimately Sahadhammikavagga
71. The training rule on legitimately 71. Sahadhammikasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Venerable Channa was misbehaving. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā channo anācāraṁ ācarati. The monks told him, Bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu—“Don’t do that, Channa, “māvuso channa, evarūpaṁ akāsi. it’s not allowable,” Netaṁ kappatī”ti. and he would reply, So evaṁ vadeti—“I won’t practice this training rule until I’ve questioned a monk who is an expert on the Monastic Law.” “na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paripucchāmī”ti.
The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Channa say this when legitimately corrected by the monks?” … “kathañhi nāma āyasmā channo bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno evaṁ vakkhati—‘na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paripucchāmī’”ti …pe… “Is it true, Channa, that you said this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, channa, bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno evaṁ vadesi—‘na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paripucchāmī’”ti?
“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how could you say this when legitimately corrected by the monks? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno evaṁ vakkhasi—‘na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paripucchāmī’ti. 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, when legitimately corrected by the monks, says, “I won’t practice this training rule until I’ve questioned a monk who is an expert on the Monastic Law,” he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno evaṁ vadeyya—‘na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paripucchāmī’ti, pācittiyaṁ. A monk who is training should understand, should question, should enquire. This is the proper procedure.’” Sikkhamānena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā aññātabbaṁ paripucchitabbaṁ paripañhitabbaṁ. Ayaṁ tattha sāmīcī”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.
- By the monks: Bhikkhūhīti
- by other monks. aññehi bhikkhūhi.
- Legitimately: Sahadhammikaṁ nāma
- the training rules laid down by the Buddha—this is called “legitimately”. yaṁ bhagavatā paññattaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ etaṁ sahadhammikaṁ nāma. When corrected in regard to this, he says, “I won’t practice this training rule until I’ve questioned a monk who’s an expert on the Monastic Law.” If he says, “I’ll question one who’s wise,” “I’ll question one who’s competent,” “I’ll question one who’s intelligent,” “I’ll question one who’s learned,” “I’ll question an expounder of the Teaching,” he commits an offense entailing confession. Tena vuccamāno evaṁ vadeti— “na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paripucchāmī”ti. Paṇḍitaṁ byattaṁ medhāviṁ bahussutaṁ dhammakathikaṁ paripucchāmīti bhaṇati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If the one who corrects him is fully ordained, and he perceives him as such, and he says such a thing, he commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampanne upasampannasaññī evaṁ vadeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the one who corrects him is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he says such a thing, he commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampanne vematiko evaṁ vadeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the one who corrects him is fully ordained, but he does not perceive him as such, and he says such a thing, he commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampanne anupasampannasaññī evaṁ vadeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he is corrected about something that has not been laid down: Apaññattena vuccamāno—“This isn’t conducive to self-effacement,” “This isn’t conducive to ascetic practices,” “This isn’t conducive to being inspiring,” “This isn’t conducive to a reduction in things,” “This isn’t conducive to being energetic,” and he says, “I won’t practice this training rule until I’ve questioned a monk who’s competent,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s an expert on the Monastic Law,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s wise,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s intelligent,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s learned,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s an expounder of the Teaching,” he commits an offense of wrong conduct. “idaṁ na sallekhāya na dhutatthāya na pāsādikatāya na apacayāya na vīriyārambhāya saṁvattatī”ti evaṁ vadeti, “na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paṇḍitaṁ medhāviṁ bahussutaṁ dhammakathikaṁ paripucchāmī”ti bhaṇati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If he is corrected by one who is not fully ordained about something that has or has not been laid down: Anupasampannena paññattena vā apaññattena vā vuccamāno—“This isn’t conducive to self-effacement,” “This isn’t conducive to ascetic practices,” “This isn’t conducive to being inspiring,” “This isn’t conducive to a reduction in things,” “This isn’t conducive to being energetic,” and he says, “I won’t practice this training rule until I’ve questioned a monk who’s competent,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s an expert on the Monastic Law,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s wise,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s intelligent,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s learned,” “… until I’ve questioned a monk who’s an expounder of the Teaching,” he commits an offense of wrong conduct. “idaṁ na sallekhāya na dhutatthāya na pāsādikatāya na apacayāya na vīriyārambhāya saṁvattatī”ti evaṁ vadeti, “na tāvāhaṁ, āvuso, etasmiṁ sikkhāpade sikkhissāmi yāva na aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ byattaṁ vinayadharaṁ paṇḍitaṁ medhāviṁ bahussutaṁ dhammakathikaṁ paripucchāmī”ti bhaṇati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If the one who corrects him is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampanne upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the one who corrects him is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampanne vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the one who corrects him is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampanne anupasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
More Definitions
- Who is training: Sikkhamānenāti
- who wants to train. sikkhitukāmena.
- Should understand: Aññātabbanti
- should find out. jānitabbaṁ.
- Should question: Paripucchitabbanti
- should ask, “Venerable, how is this? What’s the meaning of this?” “idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ; imassa vā kvattho”ti?
- Should enquire: Paripañhitabbanti
- should reflect, should weigh up. cintetabbaṁ tulayitabbaṁ.
- This is the proper procedure: Ayaṁ tattha sāmīcīti
- this is the right method. ayaṁ tattha anudhammatā.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he says, “I’ll find out and I’ll train;” “jānissāmi sikkhissāmī”ti bhaṇati, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on legitimately, the first, is finished. Sahadhammikasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.