Mahavagga, Khandaka 1, Chapter 38

1. At that time that Bhikkhu who, having formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, had (by reasoning) put to silence his upajjhāya, when he remonstrated with him according to the Dhamma, and had returned to that same Titthiya school^[1], came back again and asked the Bhikkhus for the upasampadā ordination. The Bhikkhus told, &c.

'That Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, who having formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, has put to silence his upajjhāya when he remonstrated with him according to the Dhamma, and has returned to that same Titthiya school, must not receive the upasampadā ordination, if he comes back. On other persons, O Bhikkhus, who have formerly belonged to Titthiya schools and desire to receive the pabbajjā and upasampadā ordinations in this doctrine and discipline, you ought to impose a parivāsa (a probation-time) of four months.

2. 'And you ought, O Bhikkhus, to impose it in this way: Let him (who desires to receive the ordination) first cut off his hair and beard; let him put on yellow robes, adjust his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, salute the feet of the Bhikkhus (with his head), and sit down squatting; then let him raise his joined hands, and tell him to say: "I take my refuge in the Buddha, I take my refuge in the Dhamma, I take my refuge in the Saṃgha. And for the second time, &c. And for the third time take I my refuge in the Buddha, and for the third time take I my refuge in the Dhamma, and for the third time take I my refuge in the Saṃgha."

3. 'Let that person, O Bhikkhus, who has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, approach the Saṃgha, adjust his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, salute the feet of the Bhikkhus (with his head), sit down squatting, raise his joined hands, and say: "I, N. N., reverend Sirs,who have formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, desire to receive the upasampadā ordination in this doctrine and discipline, and ask the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, for a parivāsa of four months." Let him ask thus a second time. Let him ask thus a third time.

'Then let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the Saṃgha: "Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me, This person N, N ., who has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, desires to receive the upasampadā ordination in this doctrine and discipline, He asks the Saṃgha for a parivāsa of four months. If the Saṃgha is ready, let the Saṃgha impose on N. N., who has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, a parivās-a of four months, This is the ñatti,

4. '"Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me, This person N. N., who has, &c. He asks the Saṃgha for a parivāsa of four months, The Saṃgha imposes on N. N., who has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, a parivāsa of four months. Let any one of the venerable brethren who is in favour of imposing a parivāsa of four months on N. N., who has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, be silent, and any one who is not in favour of it, speak, A parivāsa of four months has been imposed by the Saṃgha on N. N., who has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, The Saṃgha is in favour of it, therefore it is silent. Thus I understand."

5. 'And this, O Bhikkhus, is the way in which a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, succeeds or fails in satisfying (the Bhikkhus and obtaining upasampadā when the probation-time is over),

'What is the way, a Bhikkhus, in which a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, fails in satisfying (the Bhikkhus)?

'In case, O.Bhikkhus, the person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, enters the village too early, and comes back (to the Vihāra) too late, thus, O Bhikkhus, a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, fails in satisfying (the Bhikkhus).

'And further, O Bhikkhus, in case the person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, frequents the society of harlots, or of widows, or of adult girls, or of eunuchs, or of Bhikkhunīs, thus also, O Bhikkhus, a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, fails in satisfying (the Bhikkhus).

6. 'And further, O Bhikkhus, in case the person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, does not show himself skilled in the various things his fellow Bhikkhus have to do, not diligent, not able to consider how those things are to be done, not able to do things himself, not able to give directions to others, thus also, O Bhikkhus, &c.

'And further, O Bhikkhus, in case the person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, does not show keen zeal, when the doctrine is preached to him or when questions are put, in what belongs to morality, to contemplation, and to wisdom, thus also, O Bhikkhus, &c.

7. 'And further, O Bhikkhus, in case the person that has formerIy belonged to a Titthiya school, becomes angry, displeased, and dissatisfied, when people speak against the teacher, the belief, the opinions, the persuasion, the creed of the school he formerly belonged to; and is pleased, glad, and satisfied, when people speak against the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṃgha; or he is pleased, glad, and satisfied, when people speak in praise of the teacher, &c.; and becomes angry, displeased, dissatisfied, when people speak in praise of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṃgha; this, O Bhikkhus, is a decisive moment for the failure of a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school (in obtaining admission to the Saṃgha).

'Thus, O Bhikkhus, a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, fails in satisfying (the Bhikkhus). When a person comes, O Bhikkhus, that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, and has thus failed in satisfying (the Bhikkhus), the upasampadā ordination should not be conferred on him.

8-10. 'And what is the way, O Bhikkhus, in which a person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, succeeds in satisfying (the Bhikkhus)?

'In case, O Bhikkhus, the person that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, does not enter the village too early (&c., point by point the contrary of the preceding).

'When a person comes, O Bhikkhus, that has formerly belonged to a Titthiya school, and has thus succeeded in satisfying (the Bhikkhus), the upasampadā ordination ought to be conferred on him.

11. 'If a person, O Bhikkhus, that has formerly beIonged to a Titthiya school, comes (to the Bhikkhus) naked, it is incumbent on his upajjhāya to get a robe for him. If he comes with unshaven hair, the Saṃgha's permission ought to be asked for having his hair shaved^[2].

'If fire-worshippers and Jaṭilas come to you, O Bhikkhus, they are to receive the upasampadā ordination (directly), and no parivāsa is to be imposed on them. And for what reason? These, O Bhikkhus, hold the doctrine that actions receive their reward, and that our deeds have their result (according to their moral merit).

“If a Sakya by birth, O Bhikkhus, who has belonged to a Titthiya school, comes to you, he is to receive the upasampadā ordination (directly), and no parivāsa is to be imposed on him. This exceptional privilege, O Bhikkhus, I grant to my kinsmen.”

Here ends the exposition on the ordination of persons that have formerly belonged to Titthiya schools.

End of the seventh Bhāṇavāra.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See chap. 31, § 6.

[2]:

Compare chap. 48.