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47. The training rule on Mahānāma

47. Mahānāmasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on naked ascetics

47. The training rule on Mahānāma

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Mahānāma the Sakyan had an abundance of tonics. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, “Sir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for four months.”

“Good, good, Mahānāma. Please do so.”

But the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. They then told the Buddha what had happened. …

“Monks, I allow you to accept an invitation to ask for tonics for four months.”

Yet the monks only asked Mahānāma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. A second time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, “Sir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for a further four months.”

“Good, good, Mahānāma. Please do so.”

Again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. They told the Buddha. …

“Monks, I allow you to accept a further invitation.”

Once again the monks only asked Mahānāma for a small amount of tonics, and so he still had an abundance. A third time he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said, “Sir, I wish to invite the Sangha to ask for tonics for life.”

“Good, good, Mahānāma. Please do so.”

Yet again the monks were afraid of wrongdoing and did not accept. They told the Buddha. …

“Monks, I allow you to accept a permanent invitation.”

At that time the monks from the group of six were shabbily dressed and improper in appearance. Mahānāma criticized them, “Venerables, why are you shabbily dressed and improper in appearance? Shouldn’t one who has gone forth be suitably dressed and proper in appearance?”

The monks from the group of six developed a grudge against Mahānāma. Thinking of ways to humiliate him, it occurred to them, “Mahānāma has invited the Sangha to ask for tonics. Let’s ask him for ghee.”

They then went to Mahānāma and said, “We need a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>doṇa</i> measure of ghee.”

“Please wait until tomorrow. People have gone to the cow-pen to get ghee. You may come and get it in the morning.”

A second time and a third time the monks from the group of six said the same thing, and Mahānāma replied as before. They then said, “Why do you give an invitation if you don’t wish to give?”

Mahānāma complained and criticized them, “How can they not wait for one day when asked?”

The monks heard the complaints of Mahānāma, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How could the monks from the group of six not wait for one day when asked by Mahānāma?” … “Is it true, monks, that you acted like this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

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

Final ruling

‘A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months. If he accepts one beyond that limit, except if it is a further invitation or a permanent invitation, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A monk who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months: he may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for the sick. He may also accept a further invitation: he should think, “I’ll ask when I’m sick.” He may also accept a permanent invitation: he should think, “I’ll ask when I’m sick.” If he accepts one beyond that limit: there are invitations that have a limit on the tonics, but no limit on the time period; there are invitations that have a limit on the time period, but no limit on the tonics; there are invitations that have a limit on both the tonics and the time period; there are invitations that have neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period. Limit on the tonics: the tonics are restricted: “I invite you to ask for these particular tonics.” Limit on the time period: the time period is restricted: “I invite you to ask during this particular period of time.” Limit on both the tonics and the time period: both the tonics and the time period are restricted: “I invite you to ask for these particular tonics during this particular period of time.” Neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period: neither the tonics nor the time period is restricted.

When there is a limit on the tonics, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for, he commits an offense entailing confession. When there is a limit on the time period, if he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. When there is a limit on both the tonics and on the time period, if he asks for tonics other than those he has been invited to ask for or he asks outside of the period during which he has been invited to ask, he commits an offense entailing confession. When there is neither a limit on the tonics nor on the time period, there is no offense.

If he asks for tonics when he has no need for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he asks for a tonic other than the tonic he needs, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is beyond the limit, and he perceives it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is beyond the limit, but he does not perceive it as such, and he asks for tonics, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is not beyond the limit, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not beyond the limit, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not beyond the limit, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he asks for those tonics for which he was invited to ask; if he asks during the time period for which he was invited to ask; if he asks by informing, “You have invited me to ask for these tonics, but I need such-and-such a tonic;” if he asks by informing, “The time period during which you invited me to ask has passed, but I need tonics;” if it is from relatives; if it is from those who have given an invitation; if it is for the benefit of someone else; if it is by means of his own property; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on Mahānāma, the seventh, is finished.

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

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