Chapter 8 - The Sekhiya Rules

Here, venerable Sirs, the rules regarding matters connected with discipline come into recitation.

1. 'I will put on my under garment all around me^[1].' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

2. 'I will put on my robe all around me.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

3. 'Properly clad will I go amidst the houses^[2]. This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

4. 'Properly clad will I take my seat amidst the bouses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

5. '(With my body) under proper control^[3] will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

6. '(With my body) under proper control will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

7. 'With downcast eye^[4] will I go amidst the p. 60 houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

8. 'With downcast eye will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

9. 'With robes not pulled up^[5] will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

10. 'With robes not pulled up will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the first section.

11. 'Not with loud laughter will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

12. 'Not with loud laughter will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

13. 'Making but a little sound will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

14. 'Making but a little sound will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

15. 'Without swaying my body about will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

16. 'Without swaying my body about will I take p. 61 my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

17. 'Without swaying my arms about will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

18. 'Without swaying my arms about will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

19. 'Without swaying my head about will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

20. 'Without swaying my head about will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the second section.

21. ' With my arms not akimbo^[6] will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

22. 'With my arms not akimbo will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

23. 'With my head uncovered^[7] will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

24. 'With my head uncovered will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

25. 'Without walking on my heels or my toes^[8] will I go amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

26. 'Without lolling^[9] will I take my seat amidst the houses.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

27. 'With mind alert^[10] will I receive an alms.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

28. 'Paying attention to my bowl will I receive an alms.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

29. 'With equal curry^[11] will I receive an alms.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

30. 'Equally full^[12] will I receive an alms.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the third section.

31. 'With mind alert will I eat the alms placed in my bowl.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

32. 'Paying attention to my bowl will I eat the p. 63 alms placed in my bowl.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

33. 'Begging straight on from house to house^[13] will I eat the alms pIaced in my bowl.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

34. 'With equal curry will I eat the alms placed in my bowl.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

35. 'Without pressing down from the top^[14] will I eat the alms placed in my bowl.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

36. 'Neither the curry nor the condiment will I cover up with the rice, desiring to make it nicer^[15].' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

37. 'Neither curry nor rice will I ask for, for my own particular use, unless I am sick.' This is discipline which ought to be observed.

38. 'Not with envious thoughts will I look at others' bowls.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

39. 'Not into too large balls will I make (up my food).' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

40. 'Into round mouthfuls will I make up my food.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the fourth section.

41. 'Not till the ball is brought close will I open the door of my mouth.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

42. 'Not the whole hand, when eating, will I put into my mouth.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

43. 'When the food is in my mouth will I not talk.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

44. 'Without tossing the food into my mouth will I eat^[16].' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

45. 'Without nibbling at the balls of food will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

46. 'Without stuffing my cheeks out will I eat^[17].' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

47. 'Without shaking my hands about^[18] will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

48. 'Without scattering the lumps of boiled rice will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

49. 'Without putting out my tongue will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

50. 'Without smacking my lips^[19] will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the fifth section.

51. 'Without making a hissing sound will I eat^[20],' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

52. 'Without licking my fingers will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

53. 'Without licking my bowl will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

54. 'Without licking my lips will I eat.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed,

55. 'Not with a hand soiled with food will I take hold of the water-jar.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

56. 'The rinsings of the bowl mixed with lumps of boiled rice will I not throw into the inner court^[21].' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

57. 'Not to a person with a sunshade in his hand, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

58. 'Not to a person with a staff in his hand, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

59. 'Not to a person with a sword in his hand, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed,

60. 'Not to a person with a weapon in his hand, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the sixth section.

61. 'Not to a person wearing slippers, unless he p. 66 is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

62. 'Not to a person wearing sandals, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

63. 'Not to a person seated in a cart, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

64. 'Not to a person lying on a couch, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

65. 'Not to a person lolling, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

66. 'Not to a person with a turban on his head, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

67. 'Not to a person with his head covered, unless he is sick, will I preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

68. 'Not to a person seated on a seat, unless he is sick, will I, seated on the earth, preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

69. 'Not to a person seated on a high seat, unless he is sick, will I, seated on a low seat, preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

70. 'Not to a person sitting, unless he is sick, will I, standing, preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

End of the seventh section.

71 .'Not to a person walking in front of me, unless he is sick, will I, walking behind, preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

72. 'Not to a person walking on a path, unless he is sick, will I, walking by the side of the path, preach the Dhamma.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

73. 'Not standing will I ease myself, unless I am sick.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

74. 'Not on growing grass will I ease myself, or spit.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

75. 'Not into water will I ease myself, or spit.' This is a discipline which ought to be observed.

Venerable Sirs, the rules regarding matters of discipline have been recited.

ln respect of them I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'

A second time I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'

A third time I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'

The venerable ones are pure herein. Therefore do they keep silence. Thus I understand.

Here endeth the recitation of the Sekhiyas.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Parimaṇḍalaṃ: ' so as to cover the navel-maṇḍala, and the knee-maṇḍala,' says the Old Commentary. Compare Childers sub voce Timaṇḍalaṃ; and Cullavagga VIII, 5, 2.

[2]:

Antaraghare. The antaragharaṃ is the space in a village between the huts; not exactly the same, and yet in the following rules practically the same, as the village (jāma).

[3]:

Not, for instance, with dirty hands or feet, according to the Vibhaṅga.

[4]:

The practical rule is for a Bhikkhu to look at a spot in the ground about a plough's length in front of him.

[5]:

Or perhaps 'thrown off.' He is to be fully dressed as laid down in the 1st and 2nd Sekhiyas.

[6]:

Nakkhambhakato: 'putting the hands on the hips,' says the Old Commentary.

[7]:

Na oguṇṭhito : which the Old Commentary applies to the head.

[8]:

Na ukkuṭikāya; an unusual sense of the word; but it is so explained here by the Old Commentary.

[9]:

Na pallatthikāya. 'Without making a rest with his hands, or with a cloth,' according to the Old Commentary. Compare the Tipallattha-miga Jātaka, and No. 65 below.

[10]:

Sakkaccaṃ. Satiṃ upaṭṭhāpetvā, says the Samanta-Pāsādikā. See also No. 31.

[11]:

Samasūpakaṃ. 'When the curry is in quantity one-fourth of the rice' explains the Samanta-Pāsādikā. See No. 34.

[12]:

Samatittikaṃ. 'Equally full, equally heaped up (samabhāritaṃ) , explains the Samanta-Pāsādikā. Compare the several passages quoted in Rh. D.'s note on Tevijja Sutta I, 24.

[13]:

Sapadānaṃ. See Childers sub voce. The Vibhaṅga says, Chabbaggiyā bhikkhu tahaṃ tahaṃ omadditvā piṇḍapātaṃ bhuñjanti. The Samanta-Pāsādikā says, Sapadānan ti tattha tattha odhiṃ akatvā anupaṭipāṭiyā.

[14]:

Na thūpato omadditvā; on which the Samanta-Pāsādika has 'matthakato vemajjhato ti.' He is not to pick and choose what morsel he takes.

[15]:

Compare the 8th Nissaggiya. In the text read upādāya.

[16]:

Piṇḍukkhepakan ti piṇḍaṃ ukkhipitvā ukkhipitvā, says the Samanta-Pāsādikā.

[17]:

Avagaṇḍakārakan ti makkaṭo viya gaṇḍe katvā, says the Samanta-Pāsādikā (Minayeff, p. 93).

[18]:

That is, to disengage particles of the rice, to shake them off on to the ground.

[19]:

Literally, without making the sound 'Capu-capu.'

[20]:

Literally, without making the sound 'Suru-suru.'

[21]:

Antaraghare, which here means the space, or small open square in the middle of the house.