Mahavagga, Khandaka 2, Chapter 27

1. At that time a certain Bhikkhu was guilty of an offence on the day of Uposatha. Now this Bhikku thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed: "Uposatha is not to be held by a Bhikkhu who is guilty of an offence^[1]." Now I am guilty of an offence. What am I to do?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'In case, O Bhikkhus, a certain Bhikkhu be guilty of an offence on the day of Uposatha; let that Bhikku, O Bhikkhus, go to one Bhikkhu, adjust his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, sit down squatting, raise his joined hands, and say: "I have committed, friend, such and such an offence; I confess that offence." Let the other say: "Do you see it?" "Yes, I see it." "Refrain from it in future."

2. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there be a Bhikkhu on the day of Uposatha who feels doubt with regard to an offence; let this Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, go to one Bhikkhu, &c. (§ 1),and say: "I feeldoubt, friend, with regard to such and such an offence. When I shall feel no doubt, then I will atone for that offence." Having spoken thus, let him hoid Uposatha and hear the Pātimokkha. But in no case must there be any hindrance to holding Uposatha from such a cause.'

3, At that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus confessed in common an offence (shared by them all).

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

“You ought not, O Bhikkhus, to confess an offence in common, He who do es so, commits a dukkaṭa offence.”

At that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus accepted the common confession of an offence (shared by several Bhikkhus).

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

“You ought not, O Bhikkhus, to accept the common confession of an offence. He who does so, commits a dukkaṭa offence.”

4. At that time a certain Bhikkhu remembered an offence, while Pātimokkha was being recited. Now this Bhikkhu thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed: "Uposatha is not to be held by (a Bhikkhu) who is guilty of an offence." Now I am guilty of an offence. What am I to do?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'In case, O Bhikkhus, there be a Bhikkhu who remembers an offence, while Pātimokkha is being recited; let this Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, say to his neighbour Bhikkhu: "I have committed such and such an offence, friend; when I have arisen from this (assembly), I will atone for that offence." Having spoken thus, &c. (§ 2).

5. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there be a Bhikkhu who feels doubt with regard to an offence, while Pātimokkha is being recited, &c. (§§ 2, 4).'

6. At that time the whole Saṃgha in a certain residence was guilty of a common offence on the day of Uposatha. Now these Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed that offences (shared by many Bhikkhus) are not to be confessed in common, and that the common confession of such offences is not to be accepted. Now this whole Saṃgha is guilty of a common offence. What are we to do?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'In case, O Bhikkhus, the whole Saṃgha in a certain residence is guilty of a common offence on the day of Uposatha; let those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkus, send instantly one Bhikkhu to the neighbouring residence of Bhikkhus (saying), "Go, friend, and come back when you have atoned for that offence (for yourself); we will (then) atone for the offence before you."

7. 'If they succeed in this way, well and good. If they do not succeed, let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the Saṃgha: "Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. This whole Saṃgha is guilty of a common offence. When it shall see another pure, guiltless Bhikkhu, it will atone for the offence before him." (One of the Bhikkhus) having spoken thus, let them hold Uposatha and recite the Pātimokkha. But in no case must there be any hindrance to holding Uposatha from such a cause.

8. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, the whole Saṃgha in a certain residence feels doubt with regard to a common offence on the day of Uposatha; (in this case) let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the Saṃgha: "Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. This whole Saṃgha feels doubt with regard to a common offence. When it will feel no doubt, it will atone for that offence." (One of the Bhikkhus) having spoken thus, &c.

9. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, in a certain residence the Saṃgha that has entered (there) upon vassa is guilty of a common offence. Those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, are instantly, &c. (§§ 6, 7). If they do not succeed, let them send away one Bhikkhu for seven days' time: "Go, friend, and come back when you have atoned for that offence (for yourself); we will (then) atone for the offence before you."'

10. At that time the whole Saṃgha in a certain residence was guilty of a common offence, and did not know the name nor the class to which that offence belonged. Now there arrived (at that place) another Bhikkhu, &c. (see chap. 21. 2), anxious for training. To that Bhikkhu one of the Bhikkhus went, and having gone to him, he said to him: 'He who does such and such a thing, friend, what sort of offence does he commit?'

11. He replied: 'He who does such and such a thing, friend, commits such and such an offence. If you have committed such an offence, friend, atone for that offence.' The other replied: 'Not I myself alone, friend, am guilty of that offence; this whole Saṃgha is guilty of that offence.' He said: 'What is it to you, friend, whether another is guilty or guiltless? Come, friend, atone for your own offence.'

12. Now this Bhikkhu, after having atoned for that offence by the advice of that Bhikkhu, went to those Bhikkhus (to his brethren who shared in the same offence); having gone to them, he said to those Bhikkhus: 'He who does such and such a thing, friends, commits such and such an offence. As you have committed such an offence, friends, atone for that offence.' Now those Bhikkhus refused to atone for that offence by that Bhikkhu's advice.

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

13, 14. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, the whole Saṃgha in a certain residence is guilty of a common offence, &c. (§§ 10, 11)—

15. 'If this Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, after having atoned for that offence by the advice of that Bhikkhu, goes to those Bhikkhus, and having gone to them, says to those Bhikkhus: "He who does, &c.," and if those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, atone for that offence by that Bhikkhu's advice, well and good; if they do not atone for it, that Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, need not say anything (further) to those Bhikkhus, if he does not like.'

End of the Bhāṇavāra on Codanāvatthu.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See Cullavagga IX, 2.