Vinaya (3): The Cullavagga
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 137,074 words
The Cullavagga (part of the Vinaya collection) includes accounts of the First and Second Buddhist Councils as well as the establishment of the community of Buddhist nuns. The Cullavagga also elaborates on the etiquette and duties of Bhikkhus....
Cullavagga, Khandaka 5, Chapter 19
1. Now at that time a sheath of felt[1] had come into the possession of the Saṃgha.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, a sheath.'
The Bhikkhus considered whether a sheath was a thing which each one might keep for himself, or a thing which ought to be handed over from time to time by one Bhikkhu to another.'
'A sheath, O Bhikkhus, is neither to be appropriated nor to be handed over[2].'
Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus used to eat lying on decorated divans.
People murmured, &c saying, 'Like those still living in the pleasures of the world.'
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to eat lying on decorated divans[3]. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkaṭa.'
Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu was sick, and when eating he was not able to hold his bowl in his hand.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'I allow, O Bhikkhus, the use of a stand for the bowl[4].'
Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus used to eat out of one dish, to drink out of one vessel, and to lie on one bed, one coverlet, or one mat[5].
The people murmured, &c. . . . .
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, [to do any of these things.] Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkaṭa.'
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Namatakaṃ. See V, 11, 1.
[2]:
Na adhiṭṭhātabbaṃ na vikappetabbaṃ. That is, it is always to be kept as common property of the Saṃgha (Saṃghika). See Mahāvagga VIII, 20, 2, where the same expressions occur.
[3]:
Āsittaktlpadhānaṃ nāma tamba-lohena vā rajatena vā katāya peḷāya (MS. belāya) etaṃ adhivacanaṃ. The use of an ubhato-lohitakūpadhānaṃ is condemned, among other things of a like kind, in the Majjhima Sīla, § 5 (Rh. D.'s 'Buddhist Suttas,' p. 193), and above, Mahāvagga V, 10, 2.
[4]:
Maḷorikā ti daṇḍādhārako vuccati. Yaṭṭhi-ādhāraka-paṇṇā-dhāraka-pacchita-piṭṭhāni pi etth’ eva paviṭṭhāni. Ādhāraka-saṃkhepana-gamanato hi paṭṭhāya chiddaṃ viddhaṃ pi aviddhaṃ pi vaṭṭati yeva (B.).
[5]:
All these words have already occurred above at Cullavagga I. 13, 1. 'Sitting on one seat' is there added to the list.