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....

1. At that time there assembled in a certain residence (of Bhikkhus) at the day of Uposatha a number of resident Bhikkhus, four or more. They did not know that there were other resident Bhikkus absent. Intending to act according to Dhamma and Vinaya, thinking themselves to be complete while (really) incomplete, they held Uposatha and recited the Pātimokkha. While they were reciting the Pātimokkha, other resident Bhikkhus, a greater number (than the first ones), arrived.

They told this thing to the Blessed one.

2. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble in a certain residence at the day of Uposatha, &c. (§ 1); while they are reciting the Pātimokkha, other resident Bhikkhus, a greater number, arrive; let those Bhikkhus, O Bhikkhus, recite the Pātimokkha again; they who have recited it, are free from guilt.

3. In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble, &c.; while they are reciting the Pātimokkha, other resident Bhikkhus, exactly the same number (as the first ones), arrive; in that case (the part of the Pātimokkha) that has been recited, has been correccly recited; let those (who have arrived late), hear the rest; they who have recited it, are free from guilt.

'In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble, &c.; while they are reciting the Pātimokkha, other resident Bhikkhus, a smaller number, arrive, &c.[1]

4. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble, &c.; when they have just finished the recital of the Pātimokkha, other resident Bhikkhus, &c.[2]

5. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble, &c.; when they have just finished the recital of the Pātimokkha, and the assembly has not yet risen, other resident Bhikkhus, &c.[3]

6. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble, &c.; when they have just finished the recital of the Pātimokkha, and a part of the assembly has risen, &c.[3]

7. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, there assemble, &c.; when they have just finished the reciia~ of the Pātimokkha, and the whole assembly has risen, &c.[3]'

End of the fifteen cases in which there is no offence.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The decision given for the case of a smaller number of Bhikkus arriving late, is here, and invariably throughout the following exposition, identical with the decision of the case of the number of Bhikkhus being equal on the two sides.

[2]:

The same three cases are distinguished here as in §§ 2, 3, according as the number of Bhikkhus who are late, is greater, the same, or smaller than that of the other Bhikkhus. The first case is decided by Buddha as above; in the decision of the second and third cases, instead of let those (who have arrived late) hear the rest, read: 'let those (who have arrived late) proclaim their pārisuddhi in the presence (of the other brethren).'

[3]:

The three triads of §§ 5, 6, 7 agree exactly with the triad of § 4.

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