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Mv I 48
PTS: Mv I 62 | CS: vin.mv.01.48
Theyyasaṃvāsakavatthu
The Case of Affiliation Through Theft[1]
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: 'line by line' Pāḷi - English

(Mv.I.62.1) [126] Now on that occasion there was a certain delicately nurtured son of an old (wealthy) family that had fallen on hard times. The thought occurred to him,

“I am delicately nurtured, incapable of acquiring unacquired property, or of making anything out of the property I have acquired.[2]

“By what strategy could I live pleasantly and not be put to difficulties?”

Then the thought occurred to him, “Now, these Sakyan-son monks are of pleasant virtue and conduct. Having eaten good meals, they lie down in beds sheltered from the wind.

“What if I were to prepare robes and a bowl for myself, shave my head & beard, to clothe myself in ochre robes, and then having gone to the monastery, live in affiliation with the monks?”

(Mv.I.62.2) So he prepared robes and a bowl for himself, shaved his head & beard, clothed himself in ochre robes, went to the monastery, and bowed down to the monks.

The monks said, “Friend, how many rains do you have?”

“Friends, what’s that — ‘how many rains’?”

“Then who is your preceptor, friend?”

“Friends, what’s that — a ‘preceptor’?”

The monks said to Ven. Upāli, “Come, friend Upāli, and question this one gone-forth.”

(Mv.I.62.3) So the delicately nurtured son of an old (wealthy) family that had fallen on hard times, being questioned by Ven. Upāli, reported the matter to him.

Ven, Upāli reported the matter to the monks.

The monks reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“A person in affiliation through theft, if unaccepted, is not to be given Acceptance. If accepted, he is to be expelled.

“One who has gone over (while a monk) to another religion, if unaccepted, is not to be given Acceptance. If accepted, he is to be expelled.”

Notes

1.
See also BMCII Chap. 14: Absolutely disqualified.
2.
ahaṁ kho sukhumālo na paṭibalo anadhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ adhigantuṁ adhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ dhātiṁ [ME: phātiṁ] kātuṁ.
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