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Bu Pc 15

15. The second training rule on furniture

15. Dutiyasenāsanasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on plants

15. The second training rule on furniture

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the monks from the group of seventeen were friends. The lived together, and when going somewhere they would leave together. On one occasion they put out bedding in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, but then departed without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone. The furniture was eaten by termites.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could those monks from the group of seventeen put out bedding in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, and then depart without putting it away, getting it put away, or informing anyone? The furniture was eaten by termites.”

After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that those monks did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “How could those foolish men do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk puts out bedding in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, or has it put out, and he then departs without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: …The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. A dwelling belonging to the Sangha: given to the Sangha, given up to the Sangha. Bedding: a mattress, a mat underlay, a bedspread, a floor cover, a straw mat, a hide, a sitting mat, a sheet, a spread of grass, a spread of leaves. Puts out: puts out oneself. Has put out: gets another to put out. Departs without putting it away: he does not put it away himself. Having it put away: he does not get another to put it away. Or informing anyone: if he does not inform a monk, a novice monk, or a monastery worker, and he crosses the boundary of an enclosed monastery, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he goes beyond the vicinity of an unenclosed monastery, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it belongs to the Sangha, and he perceives it as such, and he puts out bedding there or has it put out, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it belongs to the Sangha, but he is unsure of it, and he puts out bedding there or has it put out, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it belongs to the Sangha, but he perceives it as belonging to an individual, and he puts out bedding there or has it put out, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he puts out bedding, or has it put out, in the vicinity of a dwelling, in the assembly hall, under a roof-cover, or at the foot of a tree, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he puts out a bed or a bench, or has it put out, in a dwelling, in the vicinity of a dwelling, in the assembly hall, under a roof cover, or at the foot of a tree, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it belongs to an individual, but he perceives it as belonging to the Sangha, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it belongs to an individual, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it belongs to an individual, and he perceives it as such, but that individual is not himself, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it belongs to himself, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he departs after putting it away; if he departs after having it put away; if he departs after informing someone; if the bedding is obstructed; if he abandons his intention to return, and at that spot informs anyone; if he is obstructed; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The second training rule on furniture, the fifth, is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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