Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga - Sekhiya 57: Not to teach the dhamma to someone holding an umbrella unless they are ill.
- Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Brahmali. (More copyright information)
Origin story
1At one time the Buddha was staying in the Bhagga country at Susumāragira in the Bhesakaḷā Grove, the deer park. At that time the monks from the group of six gave teachings to people holding a sunshade.
2The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can the monks from the group of six give teachings to people holding a sunshade?” …
“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:
3‘“I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade,” this is how you should train.’”
4In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
5Soon afterwards, being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not give teachings to sick people holding a sunshade. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics not give teachings to someone who’s sick holding a sunshade?”
6The monks heard the complaints of those people, and they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:
“Monks, I allow you to give a teaching to someone who’s sick holding a sunshade.
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
Final ruling
7‘“I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade who is not sick,” this is how you should train.’”
Definitions
8A sunshade: there are three kinds of sunshades: the white sunshade, the reed sunshade, the leaf sunshade. They are bound at the rim and bound at the ribs.
9Teaching: what has been spoken by the Buddha, what has been spoken by disciples, what has been spoken by sages, what has been spoken by gods, what is connected with what is beneficial, what is connected with the Teaching.
10Give: if he teaches by the line, then for every line he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he teaches by the syllable, then for every syllable he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
One should not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade who is not sick. If a monk, out of disrespect, gives a teaching to someone holding a sunshade who is not sick, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Non-offenses
11There is no offense: if it is unintentional; if he is not mindful; if he does not know; if he is sick; if there are dangers; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
12The seventh training rule is finished.
1p_2V_1972, msdiv633Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū chattapāṇissa dhammaṁ desenti.
2p_2V_1973Ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: "Kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū chattapāṇissa dhammaṁ desessantī"ti … pe …
"Saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, chattapāṇissa dhammaṁ desethā"ti?
"Saccaṁ, bhagavā"ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, chattapāṇissa dhammaṁ desessatha. Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
3p_2V_1974"Na chattapāṇissa dhammaṁ desessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā"ti.
4p_2V_1975Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
5p_2V_1976, msdiv634Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū chattapāṇissa gilānassa dhammaṁ desetuṁ kukkuccāyanti. Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: "Kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā chattapāṇissa gilānassa dhammaṁ na desessantī"ti.
6p_2V_1977Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. Atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi:
"Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, chattapāṇissa gilānassa dhammaṁ desetuṁ.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
7p_2V_1978"Na chattapāṇissa agilānassa dhammaṁ desessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā" ti.
8p_2V_1979Chattaṁ nāma tīṇi chattāni— setacchattaṁ, kilañjacchattaṁ, paṇṇacchattaṁ maṇḍalabaddhaṁ salākabaddhaṁ.
9p_2V_1980Dhammo nāma buddhabhāsito sāvakabhāsito isibhāsito devatābhāsito atthūpasañhito dhammūpasañhito.
10p_2V_1981Deseyyā'ti padena deseti, pade pade āpatti dukkaṭassa. Akkharāya deseti, akkharakkharāya āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Na chattapāṇissa agilānassa dhammo desetabbo. Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca chattapāṇissa agilānassa dhammaṁ deseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
11p_2V_1982Anāpatti— asañcicca … pe … ādikammikassāti.
12p_2V_1983Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.