SBE 20: Twelfth Khandhaka: Chapter 2

2.

1. Now the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî heard the rumour: 'Yasa, they say, the son of Kâkandaka, wishing to take this legal question in hand, is seeking about for support, and support they say he is succeeding in getting.' And they thought: 'This legal question, now, is hard and subtle. How can we obtain such support that we may have the greater power at the decision thereof 1?'

And they thought: 'The venerable Yasa, who dwells at Soreyya, is wise in the traditions, and is one who has learnt the Agamas, who knows by heart the Dhamma, the Vinaya, the Mâtikâs, is intelligent, discreet, and wise, modest, conscientious, and devoted to the precepts. If we could gain him over to our side, we should attain our end.'

Then the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî got together much property, requisites, a number of things of the Samanas' life--to wit, bowls and robes, and rugs, and needlecases, and girdles, and filters, and regulation-pots 2. And, taking this property with

1 perceived how this doubtful problem had arisen in the venerable Sâlha's mind, and as quickly as a strong man could stretch forth his bent arm, or draw it in again when it was outstretched, so quickly did that deity vanish from the Pure Abode, and appeared before the venerable Sâlha; saying to him: 'Thou art quite right, Sâlha; it is the Eastern Bhikkhus whose opinions are against the Dhamma, and the Western Bhikkhus whose opinions accord therewith. Do thou, therefore, O Sâlha, even as the Dhamma is, so take thy stand!'

'Both formerly, O deity, and now, also, do I take my stand even as the Dhamma is. Notwithstanding, I shall not make manifest my opinion until (the Samgha) shall have appointed me (judge) over this question 2.'

3. Now the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî, taking with them the aforesaid property, went to the place

1 I want.'

Now at that time a Bhikkhu named Uttara, who had been twenty years admitted into the Order 2, was the attendant upon the venerable Revata. And the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî went to him, and said: 'Let your reverence receive at our hands these requisites of a Samana's life.'

But he made the same reply.

Then they said: 'People used to offer such requisites to the Blessed One. If he received them, they were happy. If he did not receive them, they used to offer them to the venerable Ânanda, saying, "Let the venerable Thera receive these requisites of a Samana's life: that will be just as if the Blessed One had received them." Let the venerable Uttara receive these things: that will be as if the Thera had received them.'

Then the venerable Uttara, being thus importuned by the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî, accepted one robe, saying, 'You may tell me, friends, what you want.'

'Let the venerable Uttara say thus much for us to the Thera: "Let the venerable Thera say thus much in the meeting of the Samgha--'It is in the regions of the East that the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, are born. It is the Bhikkhus of the East who hold opinions in accord with the Dhamma, whereas the Bhikkhus of the West do not.'"'

1.

And the Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî said to the venerable Uttara: 'What, fiend Uttara, did the Thera say?'

'It is an evil you have wrought me, Sirs. The Thera has sent me away, saying, "Thou urgest me, O Bhikkhu, to what is against the Dhamma."'

'Are you not, Sir, of full age, of twenty years (since your upasampadâ)?'

'Yes, Sirs, I am.'

'Then do we take the nissaya under you as your pupils 2.'

4. Now the Samgha met together with the intention of deciding the legal question. And the venerable Revata laid a resolution before the Samgha, saying,

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. If we were to settle this question, it might be that those Bhikkhus who had at first taken the matter in hand might raise it again 3. If it seem meet to the Samgha, let the Samgha settle it at that place where it arose.'

1 of the venerable Ânanda, was living at Vesâlî. And the venerable Revata said to the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî:

'I shall go to that Vihâra in which the Thera Sabbakâmî dwells. Do you go betimes to the venerable Sabbakâmî, and question him as touching these ten points.'

'Even so, Lord,' said the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî, in assent to the venerable Revata.

And the venerable Revata came to that Vihâra in which the venerable Sabbakâmî lived; and a sleeping-place was made ready for the former in the inner chamber, and for the latter in front thereof. And the venerable Revata, thinking, 'This Thera, though so old, does not care to sleep,' did not go to rest. And the venerable Sabbakâmî, thinking, 'This Bhikkhu, though a traveller and tired, does not care to sleep,' did not go to rest.

5. Then when the night was far spent, the venerable Sabbakâmî said to the venerable Revata:

'By what manner of life, beloved one, have you lived now these so many years?'

'By continuing in the sense of love, honoured friend, have I continued thus so many years.'

'They say that you have continued thus, beloved one, by easiness of life: and that indeed, beloved one, is an easy life, (I mean) the continuing in love.'

1; and that indeed, honoured friend, is the same feeling, (I mean) the sense of the emptiness of things.'

'Even long ago, beloved one, when I was a layman, had I a strong sense of the emptiness of things, therefore is it that now also I live much in that feeling, and indeed since long I have attained to Arahatship.'

6. Now 2 this conversation between the Thera Bhikkhus was still unfinished when the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî arrived there. And he went up to the venerable Sabbakâmî, and saluted him, and took his seat beside him. And, so seated, he said to the venerable Sabbakâmî:

'These Vaggian Bhikkhus of Vesâlî have put forth in Vesâlî these ten points;' and he told them all 3. 'Now you, O Thera, have mastered much Dhamma and Vinaya at the feet of your preceptor.

1.'

'The conclusion to which I also have come, Sir, as I lay over in my mind the Dhamma and the Vinaya, is this--that the Bhikkhus of the East hold an opinion that is not in accordance with the Dhamma, while the Bhikkhus of the West are in accord with the Dhamma. Notwithstanding, I do not intend to make manifest my opinion until (the Samgha) shall have appointed me (referee) over this question.'

7. Then the Samgha met together with the intention of enquiring into this legal question. But while they were enquiring into it, both was much pointless speaking brought forth and also the sense

1. Then the venerable Revata laid a resolution before the Samgha:

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. Whilst we are discussing this legal question, there is both much pointless speaking, and no sense is clear in any single speech. If it seem meet to the Samgha, let the Samgha settle this legal question by referring it (to a jury) 2.'

And he chose four Bhikkhus of the East and four Bhikkhus of the West--from the Bhikkhus of the East the venerable Sabbakâmî, and the venerable Sâlha, and the venerable Khugga-sobhita, and the venerable Vâsabha-gâmika--and from the Bhikkhus of the West, the venerable Revata, and the venerable Sambhûta Sânavâsî, and the venerable Yasa, the son of Kâkandaka, and the venerable Sumana. Then the venerable Revata laid a resolution before the Samgha:

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. During the enquiry into this matter there has been much pointless talk among us, and in no single utterance is the sense clear. If it seem meet to the Samgha, let the Samgha delegate four Bhikkhus of the East and four Bhikkhus of the West to settle this question by reference. This is the resolution.

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. During the enquiry into this matter there has been much pointless talk among us, and the sense in any single utterance is not clear. The Samgha delegates four Bhikkhus of the East and four Bhikkhus of the West to settle this question by reference. Whosoever

1 to the Thera Bhikkhus.

Then the Thera Bhikkhus thought, 'At what place, now, ought we to settle this legal question?' And it occurred to them: 'This Vâlika Ârâma is a pleasant place, quiet and undisturbed. Let us settle the matter there.' And thither the Thera Bhikkhus proceeded to enquire into the question.

8. Then the venerable Revata laid a resolution before the Samgha 2: 'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. If it seem meet to the Samgha, I will question the venerable Sabbakâmî as touching the Vinaya.' And the venerable Sabbakâmî laid a resolution before the Samgha: 'If it seem meet to the Samgha, I, when asked by Revata touching the Vinaya, will give reply.'

And the venerable Revata said to the venerable Sabbakâmî: 'Is the horn-salt-license, Lord, allowable?'

1.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This first point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be. false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast the first vote.'

'Is the two-inch-license, Lord, allowable?'

'What, Sir, is this two-inch-license?'

'Is it allowable, Lord, to eat the midday meal beyond the right time, provided only that the shadow of the sun has not yet turned two inches?'

'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'

'Where has such a claim been rejected?'

'At Râgagaha, in the Sutta Vibhaṅga.'

'Of what offence is he, who does so, guilty?'

'Of Pâkittiya, in eating at the wrong time 2.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This second point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast the second vote.'

'Is the village-trip-license, Lord, allowable?'

1.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This third point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast the third vote.'

'Is the circuit-license, Lord, allowable?'

'What, Sir, is this circuit-license?'

'Is it allowable, Lord, for a number of Bhikkhus who dwell within the same circuit, within the same boundary, to hold separate Uposathas?'

'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'

'Where was such a claim rejected?'

'At Râgagaha, in the Uposatha Samyutta 2'

'Of what offence is he, who does so, guilty?' 'Of Dukkata, in neglecting the Vinaya.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This fourth point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast the fourth vote.'

1.'

'Of what offence is he, who does so, guilty?'

'Of Dukkata, in neglecting the Vinaya.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This fifth point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast this fifth vote.'

'Is the precedent-license, Lord, allowable?'

'What, Sir, is this precedent-license?'

'Is it allowable, Lord, to do a thing on the ground that "My preceptor (upagghâya) has practised this," or "My teacher (âkariya) has practised that?"'

'In some cases, Sir, it is allowable, and in some not 2'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This sixth point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast this sixth vote.'

'Is the churn-license, Lord, allowable?'

'What, Sir, is this churn-license?'

1.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This seventh point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast this seventh vote.'

'Is it allowable, Lord, to drink toddy?'

'What, Sir, is this toddy?'

'Is it allowable, Lord, to drink spirits which have not yet become spirits and have not yet acquired intoxicating properties?'

'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'

'Where was it rejected?'

'At Kosambî, in the Sutta Vibhaṅga:

'Of what offence is he, who does so, guilty?'

'Of Pâkittiya, in the drinking of fermented liquors and strong drink 2.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. The eighth point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast this eighth vote.'

1?'

'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'

'Where has it been rejected?'

'At Savatthi, in the Sutta Vibhaṅga.'

'Of what offence is he, who uses such a seat, guilty?'

'Of Pâkittiya, in using a thing which ought to be cut down (to the proper size) 2.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This ninth point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast this ninth vote.'

'Is gold and silver, Lord, allowable?'

'No, Sir, it is not allowable.'

'Where was it forbidden?'

'At Râgagaha, in the Sutta Vibhaṅga.'

'Of what offence is he, who takes it, guilty?'

'Of Pâkittiya, in accepting gold and silver 3.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. This tenth point, having been examined into by the Samgha, has been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master. Thus do I cast this tenth vote.'

'Let the venerable Samgha hear me. These ten points, having been examined into by the Samgha, have been found to be false Dhamma and false Vinaya, and not contained in the teaching of the Master.'

1This legal question, Sir, has been concluded; and being settled, it is settled once for all. Nevertheless, Sir, do you question me on these ten points in the midst also of the Samgha  2, in order to persuade those Bhikkhus 3.'

So the venerable Revata questioned the venerable Sabbakâmî on the ten points also in the midst of the Samgha, and as he was questioned on one after the other, the venerable Sabbakâmî gave reply.

9. Now whereas at this rehearsal of the Vinaya seven hundred Bhikkhus, without one more, without one being wanting, took part, therefore is that rehearsal of the Vinaya called 'That of the seven hundred 4.'

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Here ends the Twelfth Khandhaka, on the Rehearsal by the Seven Hundred.

 

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Footnotes

400:1 Compare above, XII, 1, 9.

400:2 On Dhamma-karaka, see our note at Kullavagga V, 13, I.

401:1 The Heaven, so called.

401:2 Compare below, § 6.

402:1 Literally, 'I have the three robes.'

402:2 Vîsativasso; that is, since his upasampadâ.

403:1 Panâmesi. That is, permanently from attendance upon him. Compare Mahâvagga I, 27. 2, where the word is used of the formal dismissal or turning away of a pupil.

403:2 Garu-nissayam ganhâma; on which Buddhaghosa has nothing, though the phrase does not occur elsewhere in the Khandhakas.

403:3 Compare the 63rd Pâkittiya.

404:1 Literally, 'had dwelt in the same Vihâra with.'

405:1 Mahâpurisa. On the subsequent history of which word, see Senart's 'Légende du Buddha,' pp. 54, 127,

405:2 Karahi. Compare 'Book of the Great Decease,' III, 53; Childers, p. 32.

405:3 The text repeats XII, 1, 1.

406:1 Compare above, § 2.

407:1 So above in Kullavagga IV, 24, 19, where the proceeding adopted in the subsequent sentences is laid down for use on such an occasion.

407:2 Ubbâhikâya. See the passage quoted in the last note.

408:1 Âsana-paññâpakam. This office is not mentioned in the other Khandhakas. We should expect to find it at Kullavagga VI, 21, 2. The reason of this is that it is no office of authority. The different referees would take their seats in the order of their seniority, and all that the âsana-paññâpaka would have to do would be to see that they were provided with everything they required (it was not much, chiefly mats or rugs to sit upon) in the hall or grove where they met.

408:2 Here, of course, consisting of the eight referees.

409:1 Pâkittiya XXXVIII.

409:2 Pâkittiya XXXVII.

410:1 Pâkittiya XXXV.

410:2 Samyutta must here be used for Khandhaka. The passage referred to is Mahâvagga II (the Uposatha Khandhaka), 8, 3.

411:1 Vinaya-vatthu. Here used as a title, apparently of the Khandhakas. The passage referred to is in the Kampeyyaka Khandhaka (Mahâvagga IX, 3, 5).

411:2 See the note above on XII, I. 10.

412:1 Pâkittiya XXXV.

412:2 Pâkittiya LI.

413:1 That is, does the fact of its being unfringed make legal a mat or rug otherwise illegal by reason of its size? See above, XII, 1, 10.

413:2 Pâkittiya LXXXIX.

413:3 The 18th Nissaggiya Pâkittiya.

414:1 It is clear from the word tvam âvuso, that Sabbakâmî is here addressing Revata.

414:2 That is not only of the referees, but of all the Bhikkhus there at Vesâlî.

414:3 Bhikkhûnam saññattiyâ. See the use of this phrase at Kullavagga IV, 14, 26, and VII, 4. I. and our note on the latter of those two passages.

414:4 Compare XI, 1, 15.

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