Cullavagga, Khandaka 1, Chapter 1

1. At that time the Blessed One was staying at Jetavana, in the grove of Anātha-piṇḍika.

Now at that time the Bhikkhus who were followers of Paṇḍuka and of Lohitaka^[1],—who themselves were makers of strife, quarrelsome^[2], makers of disputes^[3], given to idle talk, and raisers of legal questions in the Saṃgha^[4],—used to go up to such other Bhikkhus as were the same, and say, 'Do not allow such a one, venerable Sirs, to turn you back. Discuss loud and long. You are indeed cleverer, more wise, more well informed, more able at that (than your adversaries are) and do not you be afraid of them. We too will be on your side.' Thereby both disputes arose which had not arisen before; and disputes which had arisen grew hotter.

2. Those Bhikkhus who were modest were annoyed, murmured, and became indignant, saying, How can the Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and of Lohitaka act thus.' And those Bhikkhus told the matter to the Blessed One.

Then the Blessed One on that occasion, and in that connection, convened an assembly of the Order of Bhikkhus, and inquired of the Bhikkhus: 'Is it true, as they say, Bhikkhus, that those Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka,—who themselves (&c., as in § 1, down to the end)?'

'It is true, Lord!'

The Blessed Buddha rebuked them, saying, 'This is improper, O Bhikkhus, for those foolish persons, not according to rule, unsuitable, unworthy of a Samaṇa, unbecoming, and ought not to be done. How can these foolish persons, O Bhikkhus, who themselves (&c., as in § 1, down to the end). This will not conduce, O Bhikkhus, either to the conversion of the unconverted, or to the increase of the converted; but rather to those who have not been converted being not converted, and to the turning back of those who have been converted.'

3. And when the Blessed One had rebuked those Bhikkhus in various ways,—speaking of the evils of being hard to satisfy in the matter of support or nourishment, of wishing for much, of discontent, of love of society, and of sloth; and speaking in praise of being easy to satisfy in the matter of support and nourishment, of wishing for little, of the contented man who has eradicated (evils from his mind), has quelled his passions^[5], and is full of faith, of reverence, and of the exercise of zeal,—when he had thus held a religious discourse to the Bhikkhus as to what was fit and suitable in that respect, he addressed the Bhikkhus, and said: 'Let the Saṃgha, therefore, O Bhikkhus, carry out the Tajjaniya-kamma (Act of Rebuke) against those Bhikkhus.

4. 'Now thus, O Bhikkhus, should it be carried out. In the first place the Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka ought to be warned; when they have been warned, they ought to be reminded (of the Rule in the Pātimokkha against which they have offended); when they have been reminded, they ought to be charged with the (particular) offence; when they have been charged with the offence, some discreet and able Bhikkhu ought to lay the matter before the Saṃgha, saying,

'"Let the venerable Saṃgha hear me. These Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka, who themselves (&c., as in § 1, down to the end). If the time is fit for the Saṃgha (to do so) let the Saṃgha carry out the Tajjaniya-kamma against the Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka.

'"Such is the motion (ñatti).

'"Let the venerable Saṃgha hear me. The Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka, who themselves (&c., as in § 1, down to the end). The Saṃgha hereby carries out the Tajjaniya-kamma against them. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves of the carrying out of the Tajjaniya-kamma against the Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka, let him remain silent. Whosoever approves not thereof, let him speak.

'"A second time I say the same thing. Let the venerable Saṃgha (&c., as before^[6]). A third time I say the same thing. Let the venerable Saṃgha (&c., as before r).

'"The Tajjaniya-kamma against the Bhikkhus who are followers of Paṇḍuka and Lohitaka has been carried by the Saṃgha. The Saṃgha approves (the motion). Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand."'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These were two out of the six notorious Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus, who are so frequently mentioned elsewhere. Buddhaghosa says, tesaṃ nissitakā pi Paṇḍukalohitakā tv’ eva paññāyanti.

[2]:

In addition to the passages referred to in the two following notes, compare the closing words of the Pātimokkha, and the 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 13th, 17th, 54th, 74th, and 75th Pācittiyas.

[3]:

Such persons were formerly dealt with according to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Saṃghādisesas.

[4]:

Such persons were formerly dealt with according to the 8th and 9th Saṃghādisesas and the 76th Pācittiya. Compare also below, IV, 14, and the 63rd and 79th Pācittiyas.

[5]:

We have here the substance of that 'religious discourse' (dhammiṃ kathaṃ) which the Buddha is so frequently stated to have held before he laid down the rule for the guidance of the Bhikkhus in the particular matter which had been brought before him. It recurs in the Mahāvagga (I, 25, 6), and is constantly to be supplied both there and below.

[6]:

The motion just proposed is repeated down to the end.