Cullavagga, Khandaka 3, Chapter 26

1. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu had committed numerous Saṃghādisesa offences; but he was not aware of the degree of the offences^[1], and was not aware of the duration of the times^[1]; or he did not recollect the degree of the offences, and did not recollect the duration of the times; or he was uncertain as to the degree of the offences, and was uncertain as to the duration of the times.

He told the Bhikkhus, saying, 'I have committed, &c. . . . but I am not aware, &c. . . . I do not recollect, &c. . . . I am uncertain, &c. . . . What now shall I do?'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

Then let the Saṃgha, O Bhikkhus, impose upon that Bhikkhu a probation of complete purification (that is to say, a probation for as many days as have elapsed since the date of his upasampadā)^[2].

2. Now thus, O Bhikkhus, should it be imposed.'. . .

[Here follows the kammavācā in the same form as is given in chapter 1.]

3. 'In the following cases, O Bhikkhus, is the probation of complete purification to be imposed; and in the following cases is the (ordinary) probation to be imposed. Now in what cases is the probation of complete purification to be imposed? When he is not aware of the degree of the offences, nor of the duration of the times; when he does not recollect the degree of the offences, nor the duration of the times; and when he is not certain as to the degree of the offences, nor as to the duration of the times—then is the probation of complete purification to be imposed.

'When he is aware of the degree of the offences, but not of the duration of the times; when he does recollect the degree of the offences, but not the duration of the times; when he is certain as to the degree of the offences, but not as to the duration of the times—then is the probation of complete purification to be imposed.

'When he is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain . . . . of the degree of some, but not of others of the offences, and is not aware of . . . . does not recollect. . . . is not certain of the duration of the times^[3]—then &c.

'When he is not aware . . . . does not recollect . . . . is not certain . . . . of the degree of the offences, and is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain . . . . of the times of some, but not of the times of the others—then, &c.

'When he is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the degree of the offences, and is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the times of some, but not of the times of others—then, &c.

'When he is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the degrees of some of the offences, but not of others; and is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the times of some, but not of the times of others—then, &c.

'In these cases, O Bhikkhus, is the probation of complete purification to be imposed.

4. 'And in what cases, O Bhikkhus, is the (ordinary) probation to be imposed? When he is aware . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the degree of the offences, but is not aware . . . . does not recollect . . . . is not certain of the duration of the times—then is the (ordinary) probation to be imposed.

When he is not aware . . . . does not recollect . . . . is not certain of the degree of the offences, but is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the duration of the times—then &c. . .

'When he is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the degree of some of the offences, but not of others; and is aware . . . . recollects . . . . is certain of the duration of the times—then &c. . . .

'In these cases, O Bhikkhus, is the (ordinary) probation to be imposed^[4].'

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Here ends the probation.

27.

1. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu, whilst he was under probation, threw off the robes. After-wards he came back again, and asked the Bhikkhus for upasampadā. They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu throws off the robes whilst he is under probation, there can follow no probation to him, O Bhikkhus, so long as he is out of the Order. If he afterwards receive the upasampadā, the original probation (previously imposed upon him, still remains obligatory) upon him. A probation once imposed, is imposed for good; a probation once undergone, is undergone for good; if any (portion of the time) remain over, the probation must be again undergone (from the beginning).

'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu, whilst he is undergoing probation, becomes a Sāmaṇera. There can happen no probation to him, O Bhikkhus, so long as he is a Sāmaṇera. If he afterwards receives the upasampadā (&c., as in the last paragraph, down to the end).

'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu, whilst he is undergoing probation, goes out of his mind . . . . be-comes weak in his mind . . . . diseased in his sensations . . . . is suspended for not acknowledging an offence . . . . for not atoning for an offence . . . . for not recanting a sinful doctrine^[5]—there can happen no probation to him, O Bhikkhus, so long as he is out of his mind . . . . weak in his mind . . . . suspended, &c. If he afterwards becomes not out of his mind . . . . becomes not weak in his mind . . . . is restored from the suspension, the original probation is still obligatory upon him. A probation once imposed (&c., as in the first paragraph, down to the end).

2. 'In case, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu, whilst he is liable to be thrown back to the commencement of his probation, throws off the robes (&c., as in all the paragraphs of section 1, reading "liable to be thrown back," for "undergoing probation").'

3. [The same for a Bhikkhu who throws off the robes, or becomes any of the seven things specified, whilst he is liable to be subjected to the Mānatta discipline;

4. Or is undergoing the Mānatta discipline;

5. Or is fit to be rehabilitated.]

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Here end the forty^[6] cases (of interruption to a major disciplinary proceeding from a change of state in the person undergoing that discipline).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

That these are plurals, and not singulars, is clear from § 3, below.

[2]:

Suddhanta-parivāso. The Samanta Pāsādika says, Taṃ gahetvā gahita-divasato yāva upasampadā-divaso tāva rattiyo gaṇetvā parivasitabbaṃ.

[3]:

This and the following sentences are given in the text in full, as in the last paragraph.

[4]:

That is to say, shortly; if the guilty Bhikkhu can determine the time during which the offence has been concealed (on which the length of the probation depends), then he is to undergo the corresponding probation. If not, he is to undergo the so-called 'probation of complete purification,' which, as it is computed from the date of his ordination, is quite certain to be as long as the time of the longest concealment of any offence.

[5]:

The text has a separate paragraph for each of these cases.

[6]:

That is, on any of the above eight events occurring in any of the above five cases.