Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Sekhiya 14: To speak in a low voice when going to inhabited areas.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
… in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks, making a loud noise, a great noise, sat down amidst the houses … " …
‘(With) little noise will I sit down amidst the houses,’ is a training to be observed."
One should sit down amidst the houses with little noise. Whoever out of disrespect, making a loud noise, a great noise, sits down amidst the houses, there is an offence of wrong-doing.
There is no offence if it is unintentional, if he is not thinking, if he does not know, if he is ill, if there are accidents, if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū uccāsaddaṃ mahāsaddaṃ karontā antaraghare nisīdanti … pe … .
2 "appasaddo antaraghare nisīdissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā"ti. (14:159)
3 appasaddena antaraghare nisīditabbaṃ. yo anādariyaṃ paṭicca uccāsaddaṃ mahāsaddaṃ karonto antaraghare nisīdati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.