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...

On being grabbed by relatives

Kd.2.24.1 Now at that time his relations got hold of a certain monk on an Observance day. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “This is a case, monks, where his relations get hold of a monk on an Observance day. These relations should be spoken to thus by the monks: ‘Please will you, venerable ones,[1] let go of this monk for a short time[2] while this monk carries out the Observance?’

Kd.2.24.2 “If they manage this thus, it is good. If they do not manage it, these relations should be spoken to thus by the monks: ‘Please will you, venerable ones, stand at a respectful distance for a short time while this monk declares his entire purity?’ If they manage this thus, it is good. If they do not manage it, these relations should be spoken to thus by the monks: ‘Please will you, venerable ones, take this monk outside the boundary[3] for a short time while the Order carries out the Observance?’ If they manage this thus, it is good. If they do not manage it the Observance should not be carried out by an incomplete Order. If it should be (so) carried out, there is an offence of wrong-doing.

Kd.2.24.3 “This is a case, monks, where kings get hold of a monk on an Observance day … thieves … men of abandoned life[4] … monks who are opponents of monks[5] get hold of a monk on an Observance day. These monks who are opponents of monks should be spoken to thus by the monks: ‘Please will you … as in Kd.2.24.1, Kd.2.24.2 … the Observance should not be carried out by an incomplete Order. If it should be (so) carried out, there is an offence of wrong-doing.” Vin.1.123

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

An occasion where monks address lay people with the honorific title āyasmā.

[2]:

muhuttaṃ, for a moment.

[3]:

While outside an Order’s boundary a monk would not be a member of that Order, and so his absence or his failure to get his entire purity declared would not render that Order “incomplete”.

[4]:

dhutta. See BD.1.234, n.1.

[5]:

Cf. BD.1.49f.

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