Mahavagga, Khandaka 3, Chapter 6

1. At that time a certain Bhikkhu was sick. He sent a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), 'I am sick; might the Bhikkhus come to me; I long for the Bhikkhus' coming.'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to go (even during the rainy season), if the affair for which you go can be accomplished in seven days, even if you are not sent for, and much more if you are sent for, by a person of one of the following five classes: Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunīs, sikkhamānās, sāmaṇeras, and sāmaṇerīs. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to go, if the affair for which you go can be accomplished in seven days, even if you are not sent for, and much more if you are sent for, by a person of one of these five classes. Within seven days you ought to return.

2. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu is sick. If he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), "I am sick; might the Bhikkhus come to me; I long for the Bhikkhus' coming," you ought to go, O Bhikkhus, if the thing can be accomplished in seven days, even if he had not sent for you, much more when he has sent (saying to yourselves): "I will try to get food for the sick, or food for the tender of the sick, or medicine for the sick, or I will ask him (questions referring to the Dhamma), or nurse him." Within seven days you ought to retum.

3. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, inward struggles have befallen a Bhikkhu. If he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus: "Inward struggles have befallen me; might the Bhikkhus come to me; I long for the Bhikkhus' coming," you ought to go . . . . (&c., as in § 2, down to); (saying to yourselves): "I will try to appease those struggles, or cause them to be appeased (by another), or compose him by religious conversation." Within seven days you ought to retum.

4. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu in whose mind doubts of conscience have arisen sends . . . . (&c., as in § 3, down to): (saying to yourselves): "I will try to dispel those doubts, or cause them to be dispelled) or compose him by religious conversation." Within seven days you ought to return.

5. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu takes to a false doctrine. If he sends . . . . (&c., down to): (saying to yourselves): "I will discuss that false doctrine, or cause another to discuss it, or compose (that Bhikkhu) by religious conversation." Within seven days you ought to return.

6. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu is guilty of a grave offence and ought to be sentenced to parivāsa discipline. If he sends . . . . (&c., down to): (saying to yourselves): "I will take care that he may be sentenced to parivāsa discipline, or I will propose the resolution (to the assembly), or I will help to complete the quorum (required for passing the sentence of parivāsa):' Within seven days you ought to return.

7. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu ought to be sentenced to recommence penal discipline. If he sends . . . . (&c., as in § 6, down to the end of the section ).

8. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu ought to have the mānatta discipline imposed upon him. If he sends . . . . (&c.) as in § 6, down to the end of the section).

9. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu (having duly undergone penal discipline) ought to be rehabilitated. If he sends . . . . (&c., as in § 6).

10. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, the Saṃgha is going to proceed against a Bhikkhu by the tajjaniyakamma, or the nissaya, or the pabbājaniyakamma) or the paṭisāraṇiyakamma, or the ukkhepaniyakamma. If that Bhikkhu sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus (saying), "The Saṃgha is going to proceed against me; might the Bhikkhus come to me; I long for the Bhikkhus' coming," you ought to go . . . . (&c., as in § 2, down to): (saying to yourselves): "What can be done in order that the Saṃgha may not proceed (against that Bhikkhu) or may mitigate the proceeding?" Within seven days you ought to return.

11. 'Or the Saṃgha has instituted a proceeding against him, the tajjaniyakamma . . . . (&c., down to): . . . . or the ukkhepaniyakamma; if he sends a messenger to the Bhikkhus: "The Saṃgha has instituted a proceeding against me; might the Bhikkhus come to me; I long for the Bhikkhus' coming," you ought to go . . . . (&c., as in § 3, down to): (saying to yourselves): "What can be done in order that this Bhikkhu may behave himself properly, live modestly, and aspire to get clear of his penance, and that the Saṃgha may revoke its sentence?" Within seven days you ought to return.

12-15. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhunī is sick, &c.^[1]

16. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhunī is guilty of a grave offence and ought to be sentenced to mānatta discipline^[2]. If she sends . . . . (as in § 3, down to): . . . . (saying to yourselves): "I will take care that she may be sentenced to mānatta discipline^[3]." Within seven days you ought to return.

17. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhunī ought to be sentenced to recommence penal discipline . . . . (&c., as in § 7).

18. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhunī who is to be rehabilitated . . . . (&c., as in § 9).

19. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, the Saṃgha is going to proceed against a Bhikkhunī by the tajjaniyakamma . . . . (&c., as in § 10).

20. 'Or the Saṃgha has instituted a proceeding against her . . . . (&c. , as in § 11).

21, 22. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sikkhamānā is sick . . . . (&c., see §§ 2-5).

'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sikkhamānā has violated^[4] the precepts (in which she is trained). If she sends . . . . (&c., as in § 3, down to): (saying to yourselves): "I will take care that she may take upon herself the precepts (again)." Within seven days you ought to return.

23. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sikkhamānā desires to receive the upasampadā ordination. If she sends, &c., . . . . you ought to go (saying to yourselves): "I will take care that she may receive the upasampadā ordination, or I will proclaim the formula (of ordination before the assembly), or I will help to complete the quorum." Within seven days you ought to return.

24, 25. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sāmaṇera is sick (&c., as in §§ 2-5) . . . . , a sāmaṇera desires to ask concerning Vassa^[5]. If he sends . . . . (saying to yourselves): "I will ask him or I will tell it to him." Within seven days you ought to return.

26. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sāmaṇera who desires to receive the upasampadā ordination (&c., see § 23).

27, 28. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sāmaṇerī is sick (&c., see §§ 24-25).

29. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a sāmaṇerī desires to take upon herself the precepts. If she sends . . . . &c., you should go (saying to yourselves): "I will take care that she may take upon herself the precepts." Within seven days you ought to return.'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See §§ 2-5. Read here and in all cases where the messenger is sent by a woman: 'Might the noble ones (ayyā) come to me; I long for the noble ones' coming.'

[2]:

There is no parivāsa discipline for the Bhikkhunīs. When a Bhikkhunī has committed a Saṃghādisesa offence, no matter whether she has concealed it or not, she is sentenced to mānatta discipline for a fortnight. See Cullavagga X, I, 4; 25, 3.

[3]:

The phrases, 'Or I will propose the resolution to the assembly, or I will help to complete the quorum' (see § 6 seq.), of course are omitted here, because, if the proceeding is directed against a Bhikkhunī, this is to be done by a Bhikkhunī and not by a Bhikkhu. See Cullavagga X, 6, 3.

[4]:

This translation of sikkhi kupitā hoti is merely conjectural; Buddhaghosa has no note here. Comp. kuppa and akuppa.

[5]:

The technical meaning of vassaṃ pucchituṃ (to ask after Vassa?) is unknown to us.