Dhammaquelle Texts, Talks and Meditations

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Bu Pc 85

85. The training rule on entering an inhabited area at the wrong time

85. Vikālagāmappavisanasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on precious things

85. The training rule on entering an inhabited area at the wrong time

Origin story

First sub-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 six entered the village at the wrong time, sat down in the public meeting hall, and talked about all sorts of worldly things: about kings, gangsters, and officials; about armies, dangers, and battles; about food, drink, clothes, and beds; about garlands and perfumes; about relatives, vehicles, villages, towns, and countries; about women and heroes; gossip; about the departed; about various trivialities; about the world and the sea; about the various kinds of existence.

People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics enter the village at the wrong time, sit down in the public meeting hall, and talk about such worldly things? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can the monks from the group of six do this?” … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

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

First preliminary ruling

‘If a monk enters an inhabited area at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a number of monks were walking through the Kosalan country on their way to Sāvatthī, when one evening they came to a certain village. People saw them and said, “Venerables, please enter the village.” But knowing that entering a village at the wrong time had been prohibited by the Buddha and being afraid of wrongdoing, they declined. And so thieves robbed them.

They then went to Sāvatthī and told the monks what had happened, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time after informing someone.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a monk, without informing anyone, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Third sub-story

Soon afterwards a monk was walking through the Kosalan country on his way to Sāvatthī, when one evening he came to a certain village. People saw him and said, “Venerable, please enter the village.” But knowing that entering a village at the wrong time without informing anyone had been prohibited by the Buddha and being afraid of wrongdoing, he declined. And so thieves robbed him.

He then went to Sāvatthī and told the monks what had happened, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time after informing an available monk.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Third preliminary ruling

‘If a monk, when a monk is available, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing him, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Fourth sub-story

Soon afterwards a monk was bitten by a snake. Another monk went to the village to get fire. He then remembered that the Buddha has prohibited entering a village at the wrong time without informing an available monk. And being afraid of wrongdoing, he did not enter. They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing an available monk if there is some appropriate urgent business.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk, when another monk is available, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing him, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, 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. An available monk: he is able to inform him and then enter. No available monk: he is not able to inform anyone and then enter. At the wrong time: when the middle of the day has passed, until dawn. Enters an inhabited area: if he crosses the boundary of an enclosed inhabited area, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he enters the vicinity of an unenclosed inhabited area, he commits an offense entailing confession. Except if there is some appropriate urgent business: unless there is some appropriate urgent business.

Permutations

If it is the wrong time, and he perceives it as such, and he enters an inhabited area without informing an available monk, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is the wrong time, but he is unsure of it, and he enters an inhabited area without informing an available monk, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is the wrong time, but he perceives it as the right time, and he enters an inhabited area without informing an available monk, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is the right time, but he perceives it as the wrong time, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is the right time, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is the right time, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if there is some appropriate urgent business; if he enters after informing an available monk; if he enters without informing anyone when there is no available monk; if he is going between monasteries; if he is going to the dwelling place of nuns; if he is going to the dwelling place of the monastics of another religion; if he is returning to the monastery; if the road goes via an inhabited area; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on entering an inhabited area at the wrong time, the third, is finished.

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

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