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Bu Pc 19

19. The training rule on large dwellings

19. Mahallakavihārasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on plants

19. The training rule on large dwellings

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Monastery, a government official who was Venerable Channa’s supporter was making him a dwelling. When the dwelling was finished, Channa had it roofed and plastered over and over. Being overloaded, the dwelling collapsed. Then, while collecting grass and sticks, Channa spoiled the barley field belonging to a certain brahmin. That brahmin complained and criticized him, “How can the venerables spoil my barley field?”

The monks heard the complaints of that brahmin, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Channa, “How could Venerable Channa have a finished dwelling roofed and plastered over and over until it collapsed from overloading?”

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

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘When a monk is building a large dwelling, then standing where there are no cultivated plants, he may apply two or three layers of roofing material, taking it as far as the doorcase and using it for fixing the door and for treating the window openings. If he applies more than that, even if he stands where there are no cultivated plants, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A large dwelling: one with an owner is what is meant. A dwelling: plastered inside or plastered outside or plastered both inside and outside. Is building: building it himself or having it built. As far as the doorcase: a distance of an arm’s reach next to the door frame. For fixing the door: for the fixing of the door. For treating the window openings: for treating the window openings there is white color, black color, and treating with red ocher; and there is making a garland pattern, a creeper pattern, a shark-teeth pattern, and the fivefold pattern. Standing where there are no cultivated plants, he may apply two or three layers of roofing material: cultivated plants: grain and vegetables; if he applies it while standing where there are cultivated plants, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For someone covering by the line, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. For someone covering by the layer, after covering with two layers, he may ask for a third layer, and he should then leave. If he applies more than that, even if he stands where there are no cultivated plants: if he is covering with bricks, then for every brick, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with slate, then for every piece of slate, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with plaster, then for every lump, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with grass, then for every handful, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is covering with leaves, then for every leaf, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is more than two or three layers, and he perceives it as more, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two or three layers, but he is unsure of it, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two or three layers, but he perceives it as less, and he applies it, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is less than two or three layers, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two or three layers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two or three layers, and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he applies two or three layers; if he applies less than two or three layers; if it is a shelter; if it is a cave; if it is a grass hut; if it is for the benefit of someone else; if it is by means of his own property; if it is anything apart from a dwelling; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on large dwellings, the ninth, is finished.

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

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