Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Nissaggiya Pācittiya 23: The Training Rule on Tonics.
- Translated from the Pali by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Origin story
1
At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time Venerable Pilindavaccha was having a hillside near Rājagaha cleared because wanted to build a shelter. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Māgadha went to Venerable Pilindavaccha, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said: “Bhante, what are you having made?"
“I am clearing the hillside, great king, because I want to build a shelter."
“Do you have any need for a monastery worker?"
“The Master has not allowed monastery workers."
“Well then, bhante, please ask the Master and inform me of the outcome."
“Yes, great king."
Venerable Pilindavaccha then instructed, inspired, and gladdened King Bimbisāra with a Dhamma talk. The king then rose from his seat, paid homage to Venerable Pilindavaccha, circumambulated him with his right side towards him, and departed.
2
Soon afterwards Venerable Pilindavaccha sent a messenger to the Master: “Bhante, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Māgadha wishes to provide a monastery worker. What should I do?" The Master then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow monastery workers."
For a second time King Bimbisāra went to Venerable Pilindavaccha, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said: “Bhante, has the Master allowed monastery workers?"
“Yes, great king."
“Well then, I will provide you with a monastery worker."
But after promising a monastery worker to Venerable Pilindavaccha, he forgot about it. Only after a long time did the memory come back. He then addressed the minister who was in charge of all practical affairs: “Listen, has the monastery worker I promised the Venerable been provided?"
“No, sire, he hasn’t."
“How long is it since we made that promise?"
After counting the days, the minister told the king: “Sire, it’s five hundred days."
“Well then, provide the Venerable with five hundred monastery workers."
“Yes, sire."
That minister then provided Venerable Pilindavaccha with five hundred monastery workers, and a separate village was established. They called it “The Monastery Workers’ Village" and “Pilinda Village."
3
Venerable Pilindavaccha began associating with the families in that village. Then, after dressing in the morning, he took his bowl and robe and entered Pilinda Village for almsfood. At that time they were holding a festival in that village, and the children were dressed up with ornaments and garlands. As Venerable Pilindavaccha was walking on continuous almsround, he came to the house of a certain monastery worker, where he sat down on a prepared seat. Just then the daughter of the house had seen other children dressed up in ornaments and garlands, and she was crying, “Give me a garland! Give me ornaments!" Venerable Pilindavaccha asked her mother, “Why is this girl crying?", and she told him. She then said, “How can we who are poor afford garlands and ornaments?" Then Venerable Pilindavaccha took a roll of grass and said to the mother, “Here, place this roll of grass on the girl’s head." When she did so, it became a beautiful golden garland. Even the royal household had nothing like it.
People informed King Bimbisāra: “Sire, in the house of a particular monastery worker there is a beautiful golden garland. Even your household, Sire, has nothing like it. So how did those poor people get it? No doubt it was taken by theft." And King Bimbisāra had that family imprisoned.
Once again Venerable Pilindavaccha dressed in morning, took his bowl and robe and entered Pilinda Village for almsfood. As he was walking on continuous almsround, he came to the house of that monastery worker. He then asked the neighbours, “Where has the family of this monastery worker gone?" “Bhante, the king had them imprisoned because of that golden garland."
4
Venerable Pilindavaccha then went to King Bimbisāra’s house and sat down on a prepared seat. King Bimbisāra approached Venerable Pilindavaccha, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. And Venerable Pilindavaccha said: “Great king, why have you had the family of that monastery worker imprisoned?"
“Bhante, in the house of that monastery worker there was a beautiful golden garland. Even my household has nothing like it. So how did those poor people get it? No doubt it was taken by theft."
Then Venerable Pilindavaccha focussed his mind on turning King Bimbisāra’s house into gold, and the whole house became gold. And he said: “Great king, how did you get this much gold?"
“Understood, bhante, this is the supernormal power of the Venerable." And he released that family.
5 People were saying, “It seems Venerable Pilindavaccha has displayed a wonder of psychic power, a super-human achievement, in the presence of the king and his court!" They were delighted and gained confidence in Venerable Pilindavaccha, and they brought him the five kinds of tonic: ghee, butter, oil, honey, and sugar. Ordinarily, too, Venerable Pilindavaccha was getting the five tonics. Since he was getting so much, he gave it away to his followers. And his followers acquired an abundance of tonics. After filling up large pots and jars and setting these aside, they filled their water-strainers and bags and hung these in the windows. The tonics were dripping all over, and the dwellings became infested with rats. People who were touring the dwellings saw this, and they grumbled and complained: “These Sakyan ascetics are hoarding goods indoors, just like King Seniya Bimbisāra of Māgadha."
6 Monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticised those monks: “How can these monks be intent on such abundance?"
7 After criticising those monks in many ways, they informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that you are intent on such abundance?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … Foolish men, how can you be intent on such abundance? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
8 “After being received, the tonics allowable for sick monks—that is, ghee, butter, oil, honey, and sugar—should be used from storage for at most seven days. If one goes beyond that, one commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession."
Definitions
9
The tonics allowable for sick monks:
Ghee: ghee from cows, ghee from goats, ghee from buffaloes, or ghee from whatever animal whose meat is allowable. Butter: butter from the same animals. Oil: sesame oil, mustard seed oil, honey tree oil, castor oil, oil from tallow. Honey: honey from bees. Sugar: from sugar cane.
10After being received [ … ] (they) should be used from storage for at most seven days: they are to be used after seven days at the most.
11If one goes beyond that, one commits an offence entailing relinquishment: at dawn on the eighth day, they become subject to relinquishment.
The tonics are to be relinquished to a Sangha, a group, or an individual. “And, monks, they are to be relinquished in this way. … To be expanded as in Nissaggiya Pācittiya 1, verses 13 to 17 with appropriate substitutions. … ‘Bhante, these tonics that I have kept over seven days are to be relinquished. I relinquish them to the Sangha.’ … the Sangha should give … the Venerables should give … “I give these tonics back to the Venerable."
Permutations
12If it is more than seven days and he perceives it as more than seven days, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is more than seven days, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is more than seven days, but he perceives it as less than seven days, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If they are undetermined, but he perceives them as determined, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If they are not given away, but he perceives them as given away, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If they are not lost, but he perceives them as lost, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If they are not destroyed, but he perceives them as destroyed, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If they are not burnt, but he perceives them as burnt, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If they are not stolen, but he perceives them as stolen, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.
13After the relinquished tonics have been returned, they are not to be used on the body, nor are they to be eaten. They can used in lamps or as a black colouring agent. Other monks may use them on the body, but they may not eat them.
14If it is less than seven days, but he perceives it as more than seven days, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than seven days, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than seven days and he perceives it as less than seven days, there is no offence.
Non-offences
15There is no offence: if within seven days they are determined, given away, lost, destroyed, burnt, stolen, or taken on trust; if, without any desire for them, he gives them up to a person who is not fully ordained, and he then obtains them again and then uses them; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
16The third rule, the training rule on tonics, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena āyasmā pilindavaccho rājagahe pabbhāraṃ sodhāpeti leṇaṃ kattukāmo. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro yenāyasmā pilindavaccho tenupasankami; upasankamitvā āyasmantaṃ pilindavacchaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinno kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro āyasmantaṃ pilindavacchaṃ etadavoca— "kiṃ, bhante, thero kārāpetī"ti? "pabbhāraṃ, mahārāja, sodhāpemi leṇaṃ kattukāmo"ti. "attho, bhante, ayyassa ārāmikenā"ti? "na kho, mahārāja, bhagavatā ārāmiko anuññāto"ti. "tena hi, bhante, bhagavantaṃ paṭipucchitvā mama āroceyyāthā"ti. "evaṃ, mahārājā"ti kho āyasmā pilindavaccho rañño māgadhassa seniyassa bimbisārassa paccassosi. atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ seniyaṃ bimbisāraṃ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṃsesi. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro āyasmatā pilindavacchena dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṃsito uṭṭhāyāsanā āyasmantaṃ pilindavacchaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā pakkāmi.
2 atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho bhagavato santike dūtaṃ pāhesi— "rājā, bhante, māgadho seniyo bimbisāro ārāmikaṃ dātukāmo. kathaṃ nu kho, bhante, mayā paṭipajjitabban"ti? atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, ārāmikan"ti. dutiyampi kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro yenāyasmā pilindavaccho tenupasankami; upasankamitvā āyasmantaṃ pilindavacchaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinno kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro āyasmantaṃ pilindavacchaṃ etadavoca— "anuññāto, bhante, bhagavatā ārāmiko"ti? "evaṃ, mahārājā"ti. "tena hi, bhante, ayyassa ārāmikaṃ dammī"ti. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro āyasmato pilindavacchassa ārāmikaṃ paṭissuṇitvā vissaritvā cirena satiṃ paṭilabhitvā aññataraṃ sabbatthakaṃ mahāmattaṃ āmantesi— "yo mayā, bhaṇe, ayyassa ārāmiko paṭissuto, dinno so ārāmiko"ti? "na kho, deva, ayyassa ārāmiko dinno"ti. "kīvaciraṃ nu kho, bhaṇe, ito hi taṃ hotī"ti? atha kho so mahāmatto rattiyo gaṇetvā rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ seniyaṃ bimbisāraṃ etadavoca— "pañca, deva, rattisatānī"ti. "tena hi, bhaṇe, ayyassa pañca ārāmikasatāni dehī"ti. "evaṃ, devā"ti kho so mahāmatto rañño māgadhassa seniyassa bimbisārassa paṭissuṇitvā āyasmato pilindavacchassa pañca ārāmikasatāni pādāsi, pāṭiyekko gāmo nivisi. ārāmikagāmakotipi naṃ āhaṃsu, pilindagāmakotipi naṃ āhaṃsu.
3 tena kho pana samayena āyasmā pilindavaccho tasmiṃ gāmake kulūpako hoti. atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaraṃ ādāya pilindagāmakaṃ piṇḍāya pāvisi. tena kho pana samayena tasmiṃ gāmake ussavo hoti. dārakā alankatā mālākitā kīḷanti. atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho pilindagāmake sapadānaṃ piṇḍāya caramāno yena aññatarassa ārāmikassa nivesanaṃ tenupasankami; upasankamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. tena kho pana samayena tassā ārāmikiniyā dhītā aññe dārake alankate mālākite passitvā rodati— "mālaṃ me detha, alankāraṃ me dethā"ti. atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho taṃ ārāmikiniṃ etadavoca— "kissāyaṃ dārikā rodatī"ti? "ayaṃ, bhante, dārikā aññe dārake alankate mālākite passitvā rodati— ‘mālaṃ me detha, alankāraṃ me dethā’ti. kuto amhākaṃ duggatānaṃ mālā kuto, alankāro"ti? atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho aññataraṃ tiṇaṇḍupakaṃ gahetvā taṃ ārāmikiniṃ etadavoca— "handimaṃ tiṇaṇḍupakaṃ tassā dārikāya sīse paṭimuñcā"ti. atha kho sā ārāmikinī taṃ tiṇaṇḍupakaṃ gahetvā tassā dārikāya sīse paṭimuñci. sā ahosi suvaṇṇamālā abhirūpā dassanīyā pāsādikā. natthi tādisā raññopi antepure suvaṇṇamālā. manussā rañño māgadhassa seniyassa bimbisārassa ārocesuṃ— "amukassa, deva, ārāmikassa ghare suvaṇṇamālā abhirūpā dassanīyā pāsādikā. natthi tādisā devassāpi antepure suvaṇṇamālā. kuto tassa duggatassa. nissaṃsayaṃ corikāya ābhatā"ti. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro taṃ ārāmikakulaṃ bandhāpesi. dutiyampi kho āyasmā pilindavaccho pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaraṃ ādāya pilindagāmakaṃ piṇḍāya pāvisi. pilindagāmake sapadānaṃ piṇḍāya caramāno yena tassa ārāmikassa nivesanaṃ tenupasankami; upasankamitvā paṭivissake pucchi— "kahaṃ imaṃ ārāmikakulaṃ gatan"ti? "etissā, bhante, suvaṇṇamālāya kāraṇā raññā bandhāpitan"ti.
4 atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho yena rañño māgadhassa seniyassa bimbisārassa nivesanaṃ tenupasankami; upasankamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. atha kho rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro yenāyasmā pilindavaccho tenupasankami; upasankamitvā āyasmantaṃ pilindavacchaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinnaṃ kho rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ seniyaṃ bimbisāraṃ āyasmā pilindavaccho etadavoca— "kissa, mahārāja, ārāmikakulaṃ bandhāpitan"ti? "tassa, bhante, ārāmikassa ghare suvaṇṇamālā abhirūpā dassanīyā pāsādikā. natthi tādisā amhākampi antepure suvaṇṇamālā. kuto tassa duggatassa. nissaṃsayaṃ corikāya ābhatā"ti. atha kho āyasmā pilindavaccho rañño māgadhassa seniyassa bimbisārassa pāsādaṃ suvaṇṇanti adhimucci. so ahosi sabbasovaṇṇamayo. "idaṃ pana te, mahārāja, tāva bahuṃ suvaṇṇaṃ kuto"ti? "aññātaṃ, bhante, ayyasseveso iddhānubhāvo"ti. taṃ ārāmikakulaṃ muñcāpesi.
5 manussā— "ayyena kira pilindavacchena sarājikāya parisāya uttarimanussadhammaṃ iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ dassitan"ti, attamanā abhippasannā āyasmato pilindavacchassa pañca bhesajjāni abhihariṃsu, seyyathidaṃ— sappi navanītaṃ telaṃ madhu phāṇitaṃ. pakatiyāpi ca āyasmā pilindavaccho lābhī hoti pañcannaṃ bhesajjānaṃ. laddhaṃ laddhaṃ parisāya vissajjeti. parisā cassa hoti bāhullikā. laddhaṃ laddhaṃ kolambepi ghaṭepi pūretvā paṭisāmeti, parissāvanānipi thavikāyopi pūretvā vātapānesu laggeti. tāni olīnavilīnāni tiṭṭhanti. undūrehipi vihārā okiṇṇavikiṇṇā honti. manussā vihāracārikaṃ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "antokoṭṭhāgārikā ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā, seyyathāpi rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro"ti.
6 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma bhikkhū evarūpāya bāhullāya cetessantī"ti.
7 atha kho te bhikkhū te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … "saccaṃ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū evarūpāya bāhullāya cetentī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā evarūpāya bāhullāya cetessanti. netaṃ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
8 "yāni kho pana tāni gilānānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ paṭisāyanīyāni bhesajjāni, seyyathidaṃ— sappi navanītaṃ telaṃ madhu phāṇitaṃ, tāni paṭiggahetvā sattāhaparamaṃ sannidhikārakaṃ paribhuñjitabbāni. taṃ atikkāmayato nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyan"ti. (23:42)
9 yāni kho pana tāni gilānānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ paṭisāyanīyāni bhesajjānīti sappi nāma gosappi vā ajikāsappi vā mahiṃsasappi vā yesaṃ maṃsaṃ kappati tesaṃ sappi. navanītaṃ nāma tesaṃyeva navanītaṃ. telaṃ nāma tilatelaṃ sāsapatelaṃ madhukatelaṃ eraṇḍatelaṃ vasātelaṃ. madhu nāma makkhikāmadhu. phāṇitaṃ nāma ucchumhā nibbattaṃ.
10 tāni paṭiggahetvā sattāhaparamaṃ sannidhikārakaṃ paribhuñjitabbānīti sattāhaparamatā paribhuñjitabbāni.
11 taṃ atikkāmayato nissaggiyaṃ hotīti aṭṭhame aruṇuggamane nissaggiyaṃ hoti. nissajjitabbaṃ sanghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṃ … pe … idaṃ me, bhante, bhesajjaṃ sattāhātikkantaṃ nissaggiyaṃ, imāhaṃ sanghassa nissajjāmīti … pe … dadeyyāti … pe … dadeyyunti … pe … āyasmato dammīti.
12 sattāhātikkante atikkantasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. sattāhātikkante vematiko, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. sattāhātikkante anatikkantasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. anadhiṭṭhite adhiṭṭhitasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. avissajjite vissajjitasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. anaṭṭhe naṭṭhasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. avinaṭṭhe vinaṭṭhasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. adaḍḍhe daḍḍhasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. avilutte viluttasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ.
13 nissaṭṭhaṃ paṭilabhitvā na kāyikena paribhogena paribhuñjitabbaṃ, na ajjhoharitabbaṃ, padīpe vā kāḷavaṇṇe vā upanetabbaṃ, aññena bhikkhunā kāyikena paribhogena paribhuñjitabbaṃ, na ajjhoharitabbaṃ.
14 sattāhānatikkante atikkantasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. sattāhānatikkante vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. sattāhānatikkante anatikkantasaññī, anāpatti.
15 anāpatti— antosattāhaṃ adhiṭṭheti, vissajjeti, nassati, vinassati, ḍayhati, acchinditvā gaṇhanti, vissāsaṃ gaṇhanti, anupasampannassa cattena vantena muttena anapekkho datvā paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.