20. Sappāṇakasikkhāpada
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye. Tena kho pana samayena āḷavakā bhikkhū navakammaṁ karontā jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcantipi siñcāpentipi. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma āḷavakā bhikkhū jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcissantipi siñcāpessantipī”ti. Atha kho te bhikkhū āḷavake bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcathapi siñcāpethapī”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ tiṇampi mattikampi siñcissathapi siñcāpessathapi. Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
Pouring water with living beings in it Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Āḷavī at the Aggāḷava Shrine, the monks there were doing building work. They poured water that they knew contained living beings onto grass and clay, and they had others do the same. The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the monks at Āḷavī pour water that they know contains living beings onto grass and clay, and have others do the same?” 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 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: