Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka
by I. B. Horner | 2014 | 386,194 words | ISBN-13: 9781921842160
The English translation of the Khandhaka: the second book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three major ‘baskets’ of Therevada canonical literature. It is a collection of various narratives. The English translation of the Vinaya-pitaka (third part, khandhaka) contains many Pali original words, but transliterated using a system similar to the I...
The story of guidance for the unconscientious
BD.4.117 Now at that time the group of six monks gave guidance to those who were unconscientious. They told this matter to the Lord. He said:
“Monks, guidance should not be given to those who are unconscientious. Whoever should give it to (any such), there is an offence of wrong-doing.”
Now at that time monks lived under the guidance of those who were unconscientious; these soon also became unconscientious, depraved monks. They told this matter to the Lord. He said:
“Monks, one should not live under the guidance of those who are unconscientious. Whoever should (so) live, there is an offence of wrong-doing.”
Kd.1.72.2 Then it occurred to the monks: “It is laid down by the Lord that guidance should not be given to those who are unconscientious, and that one should not live under the guidance of those who are unconscientious. Now, how are we to know who is conscientious or who is unconscientious?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said:
“I allow you, monks, to wait for four or five days until (you can say), ‘I know what is the nature of the monks[1]’.” Vin.1.92
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
bhikkhusabhāgata. Vin-a.1031, “Until I know from monks that their conscientiousness is shared by the monk giving guidance”. Or, is sabhāgata equal to sabhāva, the nature (of a monk), as I take it to be?