Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Sekhiya 58: Not to teach the dhamma to someone holding a walking stick unless they are ill.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
… in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks taught dhamma to (someone) with a staff in his hand … " …
‘I will not teach dhamma to (someone) who is not ill (and) who has a staff in his hand,’ is a training to be observed."
Staff means: (the size of) four hands of a man of average height. Bigger than that it is not a staff, smaller it is not a staff.
Dhamma should not be taught to (someone) who has a staff in his hand (and) who is not ill. Whoever out of disrespect teaches dhamma to (someone) who has a staff in his hand (and) who is not ill, there is an offence of wrong-doing.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū daṇḍapāṇissa dhammaṃ desenti … pe … .
2 "na daṇḍapāṇissa agilānassa dhammaṃ desessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā"ti. (58:203)
3 daṇḍo nāma majjhimassa purisassa catuhattho daṇḍo. tato ukkaṭṭho adaṇḍo, omako adaṇḍo.
4 na daṇḍapāṇissa agilānassa dhammo desetabbo. yo anādariyaṃ paṭicca daṇḍapāṇissa agilānassa dhammaṃ deseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.