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Eleventh Khandhaka. Chapter 1

p. 370

Eleventh Khandhaka.

On The Council Of R
\"G"Agaha.

1 1

1.
Now the venerable Mah Kassapa addressed the Bhikkhus, and said: 'Once I was travelling along the road from Pv to Kusinr with a great company of the Bhikkhus, with about five hundred Bhikkhus. And I left the high road and sat myself down at the foot of a certain tree.

'Just at that time a certain naked ascetic ("g"vaka), who had picked up a Mandrava 2 flower in Kusinr, was coming along the road towards Pv. And I saw him coming in the distance, and on seeing I said to him:

'"O, friend! surely thou knowest our Master?"

'"Yea, friend, I know him. This day the Sama"n"a Gotama has been dead a week. That is how I obtained this Mandrava flower."'

'Then, Sirs, of those of the Bhikkhus who were not yet free from their passions, some stretched out

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their arms and wept; and some fell headlong on the ground; and some reeled to and fro in anguish at the thought: "Too soon has the Blessed One died! Too soon has the Happy One passed away! Too soon has the Light gone out in the world!"'

'But those of the Bhikkhus who were free from the passions (the Arahats) bore their grief, collected and composed at the thought: "Impermanent are all component things. How is it possible [that they should not be dissolved]?"

'Then I, Sirs, spake thus to the Bhikkhus: "Enough, Sirs! Weep not, neither lament! Has not the Blessed One already declared to us that it is the very nature of all things near and dear unto us that we must divide ourselves from them, leave them, sever ourselves from them? How then, Sirs, can this be possible--that whereas anything whatever born, brought into being and organised, contains within itself the inherent necessity of dissolution--how then can this be possible that such a being should not be dissolved? No such condition can exist!"

'Then at that time 1, Sirs, one Subhadda, who had gone out from the world in his old age, was seated there in the company of Bhikkhus. And Subhadda, the late-received one, said to the Bhikkhus: "Enough, Sirs! Weep not, neither lament! We are well rid of the great Sama"n"a. We used to be annoyed by being told, 'This beseems you, this beseems you not.' But now we shall be able to do whatever we like; and what we do not like, that we shall not have to do 1."

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'Come, Sirs, let us chant together the Dhamma and the Vinaya before what is not Dhamma is spread abroad, and what is Dhamma is put aside; before what is not Vinaya is spread abroad, and what is Vinaya is put aside; before those who argue against the Dhamma become powerful, and those who hold to the Dhamma become weak; before those who argue against the Vinaya become powerful, and those who hold to the Vinaya become weak!'

2.
'Let then the venerable Thera choose out Bhikkhus.'

Then the venerable Mah Kassapa chose out five hundred Arahats less one. And the Bhikkhus said to the venerable Mah Kassapa: 'Lord, this venerable one, nanda, although he have not yet attained [to Nirv"n"a], yet is he incapable of falling into error through partiality, or malice, or stupidity, or fear, and thoroughly have the Dhamma and the Vinaya been learnt by him from the Blessed One himself. Therefore let our Lord choose the venerable nanda. And the venerable Mah Kassapa chose also the venerable nanda.'

3. Then it occurred to the Thera Bhikkhus: 'In what place shall we now chant over together the Dhamma and the Vinaya?' And it occurred to the Thera Bhikkhus: 'In R"g"agaha is alms plentiful, and there is abundance of lodging-places. What, now, if we were to spend the rainy season at R"g"agaha, and chant the Dhamma and the Vinaya together there: and if no other Bhikkhus were to go up to R"g"agaha for the rainy season 1?'

4. Then the venerable Mah Kassapa laid the

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resolution before the Sa"m"gha: 'Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. If the time seems meet to the Sa"m"gha, let the Sa"m"gha appoint that these five hundred Bhikkhus take up their residence during the rainy season at R"g"agaha, to chant over together the Dhamma and the Vinaya, and that no other Bhikkhus go up to R"g"agaha for the rainy season. This is the resolution. Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear. The Sa"m"gha appoints accordingly. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves ther, let him keep silence. Whosoever approves not ther, let him speak. The Sa"m"gha has appointed accordingly. Therefore is it silent. Thus do I understand.'

5. So the Thera Bhikkhus went up to R"g"agaha to chant over together the Dhamma and the Vinaya. And the Thera Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has spoken in praise of the repair of dilapidations. Let us, then, during the first month of the rainy season repair such dilapidations, and during the middle month let us chant over the Dhamma and the Vinaya together.' And during the first month they repaired dilapidation.

6.
And the venerable nanda--thinking, 'To-morrow is the assembly, now it beseems me not to go into the assembly while I am still only on the way (towards Arahatship)'--spent the whole night with mind alert. And at the close of the night, intending to lie dawn, he inclined his body, but before his head reached the pillow, and while his feet were still far from the ground, in the interval he became

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free from attachment to the world, and his heart was emancipated from the savas (that is to say, from sensuality, individuality, delusion, and ignorance) 1.

7.
And the venerable Mah Kassapa laid the resolution before the Sa"m"gha: 'If the time seem meet to the Sa"m"gha, I will question Upli concerning the Vinaya.' And the venerable Upli laid a resolution before the Sa"m"gha: 'Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. If the time seems meet to the Sa"m"gha, I, when questioned by the venerable Mah Kassapa, will give reply.'

Then the venerable Mah Kassapa said to the venerable Upli: 'Venerable Upli, where was the first Pr"g"ika promulgated?'

'In Vesl, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'Concerning Sudinna, the son of Kalanda.'

'In regard to what matter?'

'Sexual intercourse.'

Thus did the venerable Mah Kassapa question the venerable Upli as to the matter, as to the occasion, as to the individual concerned, as to the (principal) rule, as to the sub-rule 2, as to who would be guilty, and as to who would be innocent 3, of the first Pr"g"ika.

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'Again, venerable Upli, where was the second Pr"g"ika promulgated?'

'At R"g"agaha, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'Dhaniya, the potter's son.'

'In regard to what matter?'

'The taking of that which had not been given 1.'

Thus did the venerable Mah Kassapa question the venerable Upli as to the matter, and as to the occasion, and as to the individual concerned, and as to the (principal) rule, and as to the sub-rule, and as to who would be guilty, and as to who would be innocent of the second Pr"g"ika.

'Again, venerable Upli, where was the third Pr"g"ika promulgated?'

'At Vesl, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'A number of Bhikkhus.'

'In regard to what matter?'

'Human beings 2.'

Thus did the venerable Mah Kassapa question the venerable Upli as to [all the particulars, as before] of the third Pr"g"ika.

'Again, venerable Upli, where was the fourth Pr"g"ika promulgated?'

'At Vesl, Sir.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'The Bhikkhus dwelling on the banks of the Vaggumud river.'

'In regard to what matter?'

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'Superhuman conditions.'

Thus did the venerable Mah Kassapa question the venerable Upli as to [all the particulars, as before] of the fourth Pr"g"ika. And in like manner did he question him through both the Vinayas 1; and as he was successively asked, so did Upli make reply.

8.
Then the venerable Mah Kassapa laid a resolution before the Sa"m"gha: 'Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. If the time seems meet to the Sa"m"gha, I would question nanda concerning the Dhamma.'

And the venerable nanda laid a resolution before the Sa"m"gha: 'Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. If the time seems meet to the Sa"m"gha, I, as questioned by the venerable Mah Kassapa, will give reply.'

And the venerable Mah Kassapa said to the venerable nanda: 'Where, venerable nanda, was the Brahma"g"la spoken?'

'On the way, Sir, between R"g"agaha and Nalanda, at the royal rest-house at Ambala"t"th"ik 2.'

'Concerning whom was it spoken?'

'Suppiya, the wandering ascetic, and Brahmadatta, the young Brhman.'

Thus did the venerable Mah Kassapa question

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the venerable nanda as to the occasion of the Brahma"g"la, and as to the individuals concerning whom it was spoken.

'And again, venerable nanda, where was the Sma"a-phala spoken?'

'At R"g"agaha, Sir; in "G"vaka's Mango Grove.'

'And with whom was it spoken?'

'With A"g"tasattu, the son of the Vedeh.'

Thus did the venerable Mah Kassapa question the venerable nanda as to the occasion of the Sma"a-phala, and as to the individual concerned. And in like manner did he question him through the five Nikyas, and as he was successively asked, so did nanda make reply.

9.
Then the venerable nanda spake thus to the Thera Bhikkhus: 'The Blessed One, Sirs, at the time of his passing away, spake thus to me "When I am gone, nanda, let the Sa"m"gha, if it should so wish, revoke all the lesser and minor precepts 1."'

'Did you then, venerable nanda, ask the Blessed One which were the lesser and minor precepts?'

'No, Sirs.'

Some Theras then said that all the rules save the four Pr"g"ikas; others that all save those and the thirteen Sa"m"ghdisesas; others that all save those and the two Aniyatas; others that all save those and the thirty Nissaggiyas; others that all save those and the ninety-two P"k"ittiyas; others that all save those and the four P"t"idesaniyas were lesser and minor precepts.

Then the venerable Mah Kassapa laid a resolution before the Sa"m"gha: 'Let the venerable

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[paragraph continues] Sa"m"gha hear me. There are certain of our precepts which relate to matters in which the laity are concerned. Now the laity know of us that "such and such things are proper for you Sama"n"as who are Sakyaputtiyas, and such and such things are not." If we were to revoke the lesser and minor precepts, it will be said to us: "A set of precepts was laid down for his disciples by the Sama"n"a Gotama to endure until the smoke should rise from his funeral pyre 1. So long as their teacher remained with these men, so long did they train themselves in the precepts. Since their teacher has passed away from them, no longer do they now train themselves in the precepts.'

'If the time seems meet to the Sa"m"gha, not ordaining what has not been ordained, and not revoking what has been ordained, let it take upon itself and ever direct itself in the precepts according as they have been laid down. This is the resolution.

'Let the venerable Sa"m"gha hear me. [These things being so 2] the Sa"m"gha takes upon itself the precepts according as they have been laid down. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves ther, let him keep silence. Whosoever approves not ther, let him speak. The Sa"m"gha has taken upon itself the precepts according as they were laid down. Therefore does it keep silence. Thus do I understand.'

10.
Now the Thera Bhikkhus said to the venerable

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[paragraph continues] nanda: 'That was ill done by thee, friend nanda, in that thou didst not ask the Blessed One which were the lesser and minor precepts. Confess thy fault.'

'Through forgetfulness was it, Sirs, that I did not ask that of the Blessed One. I see no fault therein. Nevertheless, out of my faith in you, I confess that as a fault 1.'

'This also, friend nanda, was ill done by thee, in that thou steppedst upon the Blessed One's rainy-season garment to sew it. Confess thy fault.'

'It was not, Sirs, through any want of respect to the Blessed One that I did so. I see no fault therein. Nevertheless, out of my faith in you, I confess that as a fault.'

'This also, friend nanda, was ill done by thee, in that thou causedst the body of the Blessed One to be saluted by women first 2, so that by their weeping the body of the Blessed One was defiled by tears. Confess that fault.'

'I did so, Sirs, with the intention that they should not be kept beyond due time. I see no fault therein. Nevertheless, out of my faith in you, I confess that as a fault.'

'This too, friend nanda, was ill done by thee, in that even when a suggestion so evident and a hint so clear were given thee by the Blessed One, thou didst not beseech him, saying, "Let the Blessed One remain on for a kalpa! Let the Happy One remain on for a kalpa for the good and happiness of the

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great multitudes, out of pity for the world, for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men 1!
" Confess that fault.'

'I was possessed (by the Evil One) 2, friends, when I refrained from so beseeching him. I see no fault therein. Nevertheless, out of my faith in you, I confess that as a fault.'

'This also, friend nanda, was ill done by thee, in that thou exertedst thyself to procure admission for women into the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathgata 3. Confess that fault.'

'That did I do, friends, thinking of Mah Pa"g"pat the Gotam, the sister of the Blessed One's mother; his nurse and comforter, who gave him milk; how she, when she who had borne him was dead, herself suckled him as with mother's milk. I see no fault therein. Nevertheless, out of my faith in you, I confess that as a fault.'

11.
Now at that time the venerable Pur"n"a was wandering through the Southern Hills with a great company of Bhikkhus, with five hundred Bhikkhus. And when the Thera Bhikkhus had completed the chanting over together of the Dhamma and the Vinaya, he, having stayed in the Southern Hills as long as he thought fit, went on to R"g"agaha to the Ve"l"uvana, to the Kalandaka Nivpa, where the Thera Bhikkhus were, and having greeted the Thera Bhikkhus, he took his seat on one side.

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[paragraph continues] When he was so seated, the Thera Bhikkhus said to him:

'The Dhamma and the Vinaya, friend Pur"n"a, have been chanted over together by the Thera Bhikkhus. Do thou, then, submit thyself to and learn the text so rehearsed by them 1.'

'The Dhamma and the Vinaya, Sirs, have been well sung by the Theras. Nevertheless, even in such manner as it has been heard by me, and received by me from the very mouth of the Blessed One, in that manner will I bear it in my memory.'

12.
Now the venerable nanda said to the Thera Bhikkhus: 'The Blessed One, Sirs, said to me at the time of his death: "Let then the Sa"m"gha, nanda, when I am dead, impose the higher penalty on "Kh"anna the Bhikkhu 2."

'Didst thou then, friend nanda, ask the Blessed One what the higher penalty was?'

'I did, Sirs, (and the reply was): 'Let "Kh"anna the Bhikkhu, nanda, say whatever he may wish; but the Bhikkhus should neither speak to him, nor exhort him, nor admonish him."'

'Do thou, then, friend nanda, let "Kh"anna the Bhikkhu know that the higher penalty has been imposed upon him.'

'How can I, Sirs, do so? Passionate is that Bhikkhu, and rough.'

'Go then, friend nanda, in company with a number of other Bhikkhus.'

'Even so, Sirs,' said nanda, in assent to the Thera Bhikkhus. And he took with him a number

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of Bhikkhus, to wit, five hundred Bhikkhus, and embarked on a boat going up stream, and disembarked at Kosamb, and not far from king Udena's park he took his seat at the foot of a certain tree.

13.
Now at that time king Udena was enjoying himself in the park together with the ladies of his palace. And the ladies heard that their teacher, the venerable nanda, was seated at the foot of a tree not far from the park. And they said to king Udena:

'They say that our teacher, the venerable nanda, is seated at the foot of a tree not far from the park. We desire, Lord, to go and see him.'

'Go, then, and see the Sama"n"a nanda.' And they went and saluted the venerable nanda, and took their seats on one side. And he. instructed, and aroused, and incited, and gladdened them with religious discourse. And when that discourse was concluded, they presented the venerable nanda with five hundred robes, and exalted and thanked him for his discourse, and arose from their seats, and saluted him, and keeping him on their right sides as they passed him, they departed thence.

14.
And king Udena saw the ladies coming from the distance. And on seeing them he said to them:

'Well, did you succeed in seeing the Sama"n"a nanda?'

'We saw him, Sire.'

'Did you present the Sama"n"a nanda with any gift?'

'We gave, Sire, to the venerable nanda five hundred robes.'

Then king Udena was indignant and annoyed, and became angry, saying:

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'How can the Sama"n"a nanda accept so many robes? Would he set up as a hawker in cloths, or would he open a shop 1?'

And king Udena went to where the venerable nanda was, and after exchanging with him the greetings and compliments of friendship and civility, sat down by his side. And when he was so seated, he said to him:

'Did our ladies come hither, nanda?'

'Yes, great king.'

'Did they give anything to your reverence?'

'They gave me, great king, five hundred robes.'

'And what does your reverence intend to do with those five hundred robes?'

I shall divide them, great king, among those of the Bhikkhus whose robes are worn out.'

'And what do you intend, nanda, to do with the worn-out robes?'

'Of those, great king, we shall make counterpanes.'

'And what do you intend to do, nanda, with the old counterpanes?'

'Of those, great king, we shall make bolster cases.'

'And what do you intend to do, nanda, with the old bolster cases?'

'Of those, great king, we shall make carpets.'

'And what do you intend to do, nanda, with the old carpets?'

'Of those, great king, we shall make towels for the washing of the feet.'

'And what do you intend to do, nanda, with the old towels?'

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'Of those, great king, we shall make dusters.'

'And what do you intend to do, nanda, with the old dusters?'

'Those, great king, we shall tear in shreds, and beat up with mud, and use them for making flooring of clay.'

Then king Udena thought: 'These Sakyaputtiya Sama"n"as make general use of everything in a conscientious way, and take nothing as one man's peculiar property 1.' And he presented other five hundred pieces of cloth to the venerable nanda.

15.
But nanda went on to the Ghosita rma, and sat down then on the seat spread out for him. And the venerable "Kh"anna went to the place where he was and saluted him, and took his seat beside him. And when he was so seated, nanda said to him

'The Sa"m"gha, friend "Kh"anna, has imposed upon you the higher penalty.'

'What then, friend nanda, is the higher penalty?'

'You, friend "Kh"anna, may say to the Bhikkhus whatever you wish; but the Bhikkhus are neither to speak to you, nor exhort you, nor admonish you.'

'Shall I not be even a slain man, friend nanda, so long as I am neither spoken to, nor exhorted, nor admonished by the Bhikkhus?' said "Kh"anna, and he fainted and fell.

Then the venerable "Kh"anna, pained, grieved, and seized with, remorse through the higher penalty, remained alone and separate, earnest, zealous, and resolved. And ere long he attained to that supreme

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goal 1 of the higher life for the sake of which men even of good family go out from all and every household gain and comfort to become houseless wanderers--yea, that supreme goal did he, by himself, and while yet in this visible world, bring himself to the knowledge of, and continue to realise, and to see face to face! And he became conscious that rebirth was at an end for him, that the higher life had been fulfilled, that all that should be done had been accomplished, and that, after this present life, there would be no beyond 2!

So the venerable "Kh"anna became yet another among the Arahats. And after he had attained to Arahatship, the venerable "Kh"anna went to the venerable nanda, and said:

'Remove from me now, friend nanda, the higher penalty.'

'From the moment, friend "Kh"anna, that you had realised Arahatship, from that moment was the higher penalty removed from you.'

16.
Now whereas five hundred Bhikkhus, without one failing, without one more, took part in this rehearsal of the Vinaya, therefore is that rehearsal of the Vinaya called 'that of the five hundred 3.'

Here ends the Eleventh Khandhaka, on the Rehearsal by the Five Hundred.

Footnotes

370:1
The following section differs from the corresponding passage in the 'Book of the Great Decease' (vi, 36-41) in the very curious and instructive way pointed out by H.O. in the Introduction to his edition of the text, p. xxvi, on which see the remarks of Rh. D. at p. xiii of the General Introduction to his 'Buddhist Suttas.'

370:2
This was a flower which was supposed to grow only in heaven, and its appearance on earth showed that the devas, on some special occasion, had been casting down heavenly flowers upon the earth.

371:1
In the 'Book of the Great Decease' the following speech comes before the preceding one.

372:1
This last was necessary, for if other Bhikkhus spent the Was at R"g"agaha, either they must take part in the council, or its p. 373 decisions would have been invalid through its being incompletely constituted (want of vaggatta).

374:1
In other words, he became an Arahat. Some MSS. omit the clause about the feet.

374:2
Anupa"atti. Turnour (Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1837, p. 19) translates this word,: which is not in Childers, by 'the sequel or application of the exhortation.' We think the pa"atti refers to the principal rule (as laid down in the Sutta Vibhaga at the close of I, 5, 11), and the anupa"atti to the additions made to it in the following sections.

374:3
This last clause doubtless refers to the closing words in the account given in the Sutta Vibhaga of each rule.

375:1
That is, 'theft.'

375:2
That is, murder or manslaughter. 'The slaying of is to be understood.

376:1
Ubhato-vinaye. That is, relating on the one hand to Bhikkhus, and on the other to Bhikkhuns (not Sutta Vibhaga and Khandhakas). The Burmese MS. at Berlin reads ubhato-vibhage, suggested possibly by Buddhaghosa's expression in the corresponding part of his accounts of this Council at the commencement of the Sumagala Vilsin and the Samanta Psdik (see Turnour, loc. cit., and H.O., Vinaya Iii, 290.)

376:2
In the text read r"g"grake, as suggested in the notes at p. 329, and confirmed by the Sutta itself (ed. Grimblot).

377:1
'Book of the Great Decease,' Vi, 3.

378:1
Dhmaklika"m". See our note above on Vi, 17, I. Buddhaghosa says here, Dhmaklikan ti yva samanassa Gotamassa parinibbna-"k"itika-dhmo pa"yati tvaklo ti attho.

378:2
The whole repeated.

379:1
Compare Mahvagga X, 1, 8, at the end.

379:2
It is worthy of notice that this episode is not referred to in the 'Book of the Great Decease' (vi, 23-26. Compare V, 46-51).

380:1
This refers to the conversations in the 'Book of the Great Decease,' Iii, 1-4, and 43-60 (especially 56).

380:2
Pariyu"t"th"ita-"k"itto. The words in parentheses are supplied from the 'Book of the Great Decease,' III, 4, where see Rh. D.'s note on the spelling of the word.

380:3
Pabba"g"g"a"m", admission into the Order.

381:1
Sagti"m" upehi.

381:2
See 'Book of the Great Decease,' Vi, 4.

383:1
Pagghika-sl, on which Buddhaghosa says nothing.

384:1
Na kulva"m" gmenti, on which Buddhaghosa says nothing.

385:1
That is, Arahatship, Nirv"n"a.

385:2
This Nirv"n"a paragraph is constantly recurring (e. g. 'Book of the Great Decease,' V, 68; Mahvagga V, 1, 18; Sa"m"yutta Vii, 1).

385:3 Compare Xii, 2, 9.

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