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 23
Then the BIessed One thus addressed the Bhikkus: 'Assemble, O Bhikkhus, the Saṃgha will perform an (official) act.' When he had spoken thus, a certain Bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: 'there is a sick Bhikkhu, Lord, who is not present.'
'I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that a sick Bhikkhu is to declare (lit. to give) his consent (to the act to be performed), &c.[1] I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that on the day of Uposatha he who declares his pārisuddhi is to declare his consent (to official acts to be performed eventually) also, for (both declarations) are required for the Saṃgha (and for the validity of its acts).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The rules given here regarding the chanda (declaration of consent of an absentee) that is required for the performance of official acts are word for word the same as those set out in chap. 22. 1-4, regarding the pārisuddhi required at the Uposatha service.