Cullavagga, Khandaka 1, Chapter 25

for not acknowledging, and for not atoning for, an offence^[1].

25.

1. Now at that time the Blessed Buddha was dwelling at Kosambī, in the Ghosita Ārāma. And at that time the venerable Channa^[2], when he had committed a fault, was not willing to acknowledge the fault. Those Bhikkhus who were moderate were annoyed, murmured, and became indignant, saying, 'How can the venerable Channa act so?' And those Bhikkhus told the matter to the Blessed One.

Then the Blessed One on that occasion, and in that connection, after he had convened a meeting of the Bhikkhu-saṃgha, asked the Bhikkhus:

'Is it true, O Bhikkhus, as they say, that Channa when he has committed a fault, is not willing to acknowledge the fault?'

'It is true, Lord!'

The Blessed Buddha rebuked him, saying, 'How, O Bhikkhus, can that foolish one act so? This will not conduce 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.'

And when the Blessed One had so rebuked him, and had delivered a religious discourse, he addressed the Bhikkhus and said: 'Let therefore the Saṃgha, O Bhikkhus, carry out against Channa the Bhikkhu the āpattiyā adassane Ukkhepaniya-kamma (the Act of Suspension which follows on not acknowledging a fault) to the intent that he shall not eat or dwell together with the Saṃgha^[3].

'Now thus, O Bhikkhus, should it be carried out.' [Here follow the formal words of' the Kammavācā as in chapter 1, 4, with the necessary alterations owing to the difference of the fault and of the K am ma following on it. And at the end of the Kammavācā (after the words 'Thus I understand') the following sentence is added.]

'And send a proclamation, O Bhikkhus, from residence to residence^[4]; saying, "Channa the Bhikkhu has been subjected by the Saṃgha to the Ukkhepaniya-kamma for not acknowledging a fault."'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

There is no mention in the Pātimokkha of any such proceeding. At the close of each of the four Pāṭidesaniya Rules there is a form of confession to be observed. It would seem from the following chapters, which are nowhere expressly confined to these four cases, that a similar confession was expected after the commission of an offence against any of the Pātimokkha Rules. In the closing words of the Saṃghādisesa Rules, an older proceeding is mentioned, under which an offending Bhikkhu who has not confessed any breach of either of those thirteen Rules is to remain on probation for as many days he has allowed to go by without confessing,

[2]:

On Channa's character, see also below, IV, 14, I, XI, I, 12-14, and Mahā-parinibbāna Sutta VI, 4.

[3]:

Compare Mahāvagga I, 79 generally, and § 2 of that chapter on the last clause (asambhogaṃ saṃghena).

[4]:

On this phrase the Samanta Pāsādikā says, Āvāsa-paramparañ ca bhikkhave saṃsathā ti sabbāvāsesu ārocetha.