Vinaya (2): The Mahavagga
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 156,382 words
The Mahavagga (part of the Vinaya collection) includes accounts of Gautama Buddha’s and the ten principal disciples’ awakenings, as well as rules for ordination, rules for reciting the Patimokkha during uposatha days, and various monastic procedures....
Mahavagga, Khandaka 2, Chapter 9
1. At that time in a certain district too small an Uposatha hall had been appointed. On the day of Uposatha a great assembly of Bhikkhus met together. The Bhikkhus heard the Pātimokkha sitting outside the site fixed upon. Now those Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has promulgated the precept that Uposatha is to be held after an Uposatha hall has been fixed upon, and we have heard the Pātimokkha sitting outside the site fixed upon. Have we therefore (duly) held Uposatha or have we not held it?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
'Whether (a Bhikkhu) be seated inside or outside the site fixed upon, provided he hears the Pātimokkha, Uposatha has been duly held by him.
2. 'Therefore, O Bhikkhus, let the Saṃgha determine as large an uposatha-pamukha[1] as it desires. And it ought to be determined, O Bhikkhus, in this way: First the landmarks are to be proclaimed. The landmarks having been proclaimed, let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the Saṃgha: "Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. If the Saṃgha is ready, let the Saṃgha, as the land marks have been proclaimed all around, determine an uposathapamukha by these land marks. This is the ñatti. Let the Saṃgha, &c. Thus I understand."'
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Uposatha-pamukha (literally, that which has the Uposatha at its head, or, that which is situated in front of the Uposatha) evidently means the place around the uposathāgāra, in which the Pātimokkha recitation may be heard as well as in the uposathāgāra itself.