Four things not to be done

^Kd.1.78.1 Now at that time monks, having ordained a certain monk, went away leaving him alone. Afterwards as he was going along alone, he met his former wife on the way. She spoke thus: “What, have you now gone forth?”

“Yes, I have gone forth.” She said:

“Sexual intercourse is difficult for those who have gone forth. Come and indulge in sexual intercourse.” Having indulged in sexual intercourse with her, he arrived late. Monks spoke thus: “What were you, your reverence, doing for such a long time?”

^Kd.1.78.2 Then this monk told this matter to the monks. The monks told this matter to the Lord. He said:

“I allow you, monks, having ordained (a monk), to give him a companion and to explain four things which are not to be done. When a monk is ordained he should not indulge in sexual intercourse, even with an animal.^[1] Whatever monk indulges in sexual intercourse, he becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans. As a man with his head cut off could not become one to live by that bodily connection, even so a monk, having indulged in sexual intercourse, becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans.^[2] This is a thing not to be done by you as long as life lasts.

^Kd.1.78.3 “When a monk is ordained he should not take by theft what has not been given, even if it is only a blade of grass.^[3] Whatever monk takes by theft a pāda^[4] or the worth of a pāda or more than a pāda that has not been given, he becomes not ^BD.4.125 a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans. As a withered leaf, freed from its stalk, could not become green again, even so a monk, having taken by theft a pāda or the worth of a pāda or more than a pāda that was not given, becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans.^[5] This ^Vin.1.97 is a thing not to be done by you as long as life lasts.

^Kd.1.78.4 “When a monk is ordained he should not intentionally deprive a living thing of life, even if it is only an ant.^[6] Whatever monk deprives a human being of life even down to causing abortion,^[7] he becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans. As a flat stone, broken in half, becomes (something) not to be put together again, even so a monk, having intentionally deprived a human being of life, becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans.^[8] This is a thing not to be done by you as long as life lasts.

^Kd.1.78.5 “When a monk is ordained he should not lay claim to a state of further-men, even thinking: ‘I delight in solitude’.^[9] Whatever monk, of evil desires, filled with covetousness, lays claim to a state of further-men which is non-existent, not a fact^[10]—to meditation or to a deliverance or to contemplation or to an attainment or to a way or to a fruit^[11]—he becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans. As a palmyra palm, cut off at the crown, could not become one for further growth,^[12] even so a monk, of evil desires, filled with covetousness, having claimed a state of further-men which is nonexistent, not a fact, becomes not a (true) recluse, not a son of the Sakyans. This is a thing not to be done by you as long as life lasts.”

^Kd.1.78.6 Told are the Four Things which are not to be done.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Bu-Pj.1, Vin.3.22.

[2]:

Vin.3.28.

[3]:

Bu-Pj.2.

[4]:

See note at BD.1.71.

[5]:

Cf. Vin.3.47.

[6]:

Bu-Pj.3 (for human beings) and Bu-Pc.61 (for animals).

[7]:

Vin.3.83f.

[8]:

Vin.3.74.

[9]:

suññāgāra. See Vin.3.91. Where “delight in solitude for the mind devoid of the hindrances” occurs in definition of “state of further-men”.

[10]:

Vin.3.90, where such a one is called the “chief great thief”.

[11]:

Cf. the longer list of concepts enumerated in definition of “state of further-men” at Vin.3.91, Vin.3.92.

[12]:

Vin.3.92.