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...
Allowance to enter the rains
Kd.3.1.1 BD.4.183 At one time the awakened one, the Lord was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove at the squirrels’ feeding place. Now at that time (the use of) a rains-residence for monks had not come to be laid down by the Lord. So these monks[1] walked on tour during the cold weather and the hot weather and the rains.
Kd.3.1.2 People looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: “How can these recluses, sons of the Sakyans, walk on tour during the cold weather and the hot weather and the rains, trampling down the crops and grasses, injuring life that is one-facultied and bringing many small creatures to destruction[2]? Shall it be that those members of other sects, whose rules are badly kept, cling to and prepare a rains-residence, shall it be that these birds, having made their nests in the tree-tops, cling to and prepare a rains-residence,[3] while these recluses, sons of the Sakyans walk on a tour during the cold weather and the hot weather and the rains, trampling down the crops and grasses, injuring life that is one-facultied and bringing many small creatures to destruction?”
Kd.3.1.3 Monks heard these people who … spread it about. Then these monks told this matter to the Lord. Then the Lord, on this occasion, in this connection, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying: “I allow you, monks, to enter upon the rains.”[4]
Kd.3.2.1 Then it occurred to these monks: “Now, when should the rains be entered upon?” They told this matter to the Lord.
BD.4.184 He said: “I allow you, monks, to enter upon the rains in the rainy season[5].”
Kd.3.2.2 Then it occurred to these monks: “Now, how many (periods) are there for beginning the rains[6]?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, there are these two (periods) for beginning the rains: the earlier and the later.[7] The earlier may be entered upon the day after (the full moon of) Āsāḷhī, the later may be entered upon a month after (the full moon of) Āsāḷhī.[8] These, monks, are the two (periods) for beginning the rains.” Vin.1.138
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
te’dha bhikkhū. Vin-a.1067 says that idha is only a conjunction; this is borne out by the several variant readings given at Vin.1.376.
[2]:
[3]:
Quoted AN-a.ii.97.
[4]:
vassaṃ upagantuṃ.
[5]:
[6]:
vassupanāyikā. See GS.i.47, n.1, and Vinaya Texts i.299, n.1.
[7]:
Cf. AN.i.51. AN-a.ii.97 says that this was laid down twenty years after the lord had attained enlightenment.