22. Ūnapañcabandhanasikkhāpada
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarena kumbhakārena bhikkhū pavāritā honti— “yesaṁ ayyānaṁ pattena attho ahaṁ pattenā”ti. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū patte viññāpenti. Yesaṁ khuddakā pattā te mahante patte viññāpenti. Yesaṁ mahantā pattā te khuddake patte viññāpenti. Atha kho so kumbhakāro bhikkhūnaṁ bahū patte karonto na sakkoti aññaṁ vikkāyikaṁ bhaṇḍaṁ kātuṁ, attanāpi na yāpeti, puttadārāpissa kilamanti. Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū patte viññāpessanti. Ayaṁ imesaṁ bahū patte karonto na sakkoti aññaṁ vikkāyikaṁ bhaṇḍaṁ kātuṁ, attanāpi na yāpeti, puttadārāpissa kilamantī”ti. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū patte viññāpessantī”ti. Atha kho te bhikkhū te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū patte viññāpentīti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā na mattaṁ jānitvā bahū patte viññāpessanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… vigarahitvā dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— “na, bhikkhave, patto viññāpetabbo. Yo viññāpeyya, āpatti dukkaṭassā”ti.
Exchanging an almsbowl with fewer than five mends Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu. At that time a potter had invited the monks, saying, “If any of you needs an almsbowl, I’ll provide it.” But the monks had no sense of moderation, and they asked for many bowls. Those who had small bowls asked for large ones, and those who had large bowls asked for small ones. The potter was so busy making bowls for the monks that he was unable to make goods for sale. He could not make a living for himself, and his wives and children suffered. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics have no sense of moderation and ask for many bowls? This potter is so busy making bowls for them that he is unable to make goods for sale. He is unable to make a living for himself, and his wives and children are suffering.” The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can those monks have no sense of moderation and ask for many bowls?” After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can those foolish men do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” After rebuking them, he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “Monks, a monk should not ask for an almsbowl. If he does, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.”