The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw | 1990 | 1,044,401 words
This page describes The Kula Sutta contained within the book called the Great Chronicle of Buddhas (maha-buddha-vamsa), a large compilation of stories revolving around the Buddhas and Buddhist disciples. This page is part of the series known as buddha’s Brahmin Parents in His Previous Existence. This great chronicle of Buddhas was compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw who had a thorough understanding of the thousands and thousands of Buddhist teachings (suttas).
The Kula Sutta
(Lay supporters whose houses ought not to be visited by bhikkhus).
“Bhikkhus, homes of lay supporters who come under these nine conditions should not be visited by bhikkhus, if they have never been there, or if they happen to be there already, they should not stay there. Now, these are the nine (improper) conditions:
(1) If the lay supporters do not respectfully welcome you;
(2) If they do not make obeisance respectfully to the bhikkhus;
(3) If they do not respectfully offer proper seats;
(4) If they hide from bhikkhus their property worth offering to bhikkhus;
(5) If they offer only a little whereas they possess much to offer;
(6) If they offer inferior things whereas they have superior things worthy of offering;
(7) If they do not offer things respectfully but do so disrespectfully;
(8) If they do not come near bhikkhus to listen to his teaching;
(9) If they do not listen to the bhikkhus discourse respectfully.
“Bhikkhus, homes of lay supporters who are of the above nine (improper) conditions should not be visited by bhikkhus, if they have never been there; and if a bhikkhu happens to be at such a home already, he should not stay there.”
“Bhikkhus, homes of lay supporters who come under nine conditions ought to be visited by bhikkhus if they have never been there, and if they happen to be there already, they should stay there. Now, these are the nine (proper) conditions:
(1) If the lay supporters welcome you respectfully;
(2) If they make obeisance respectfully to the bhikkhus;
(3) If they respectfully offer proper seats;
(4) If they do not make any secret of their property worth offering to bhikkhus;
(5) If they have much to offer they offer much;
(6) If they have superior things to offer they offer them;
(7) If they offer things respectfully;
(8) If they come near the bhikkhu to listen to his teaching;
(9) If they listen to the bhikkhus discourse respectfully.
“Bhikkhus, lay supporters who are of the above nine (proper) conditions should be visited by bhikkhus, if they have never been there and if a bhikkhu happens to be at such a house, he should stay there.”
“Great King, those bhikkhus left you probably because they are not on intimate terms with you. That indeed is so. Wise ones of past are known to have gone to their intimate ones in times of serious illness, near unto death, although they were respectfully looked after by people not intimate to them.”