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49. The training rule on staying with armies

49. Senāvāsasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on naked ascetics

49. The training rule on staying with armies

Origin story

On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the monks from the group of six went to the army on some business, and they stayed there for more than three nights. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics stay with the army? It’s our misfortune that we must stay with the army for the sake of our livelihoods and because of our wives and children.”

The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How could the monks from the group of six stay with the army for more than three nights?” … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

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

Final ruling

‘If that monk has a reason for going to the army, he may stay with the army for two or three nights. If he stays longer than that, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

If that monk has a reason for going to the army: if he has a reason, if he has something to do. He may stay with the army for two or three nights: he may stay for two or for three nights. If he stays longer than that: if he is staying with the army at sunset on the fourth day, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is more than three nights, and he perceives it as more, and he is staying with the army, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than three nights, but he is unsure of it, and he is staying with the army, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than three nights, but he perceives it as less, and he is staying with the army, he commits an offense entailing confession.

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

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he stays for two or three nights; if he stays for less than two or three nights; if he stays for two nights, then leaves before dawn on the third night, and then stays again; if he stays because he is sick; if he stays because he has to take care of someone who is sick; if the army is obstructed by an enemy army; if he is obstructed from leaving; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on staying with armies, the ninth, is finished.

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

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