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Mv II 09
PTS: Mv II 12.7 | CS: vin.mv.02.09
Gāmasīmādi
The Village-territory, etc.[1]
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: 'line by line' Pāḷi - English

(Mv.II.12.7)[164] “Monks, when a territory has not been authorized, not set aside, the village-territory or town-territory of the village or town on which one depends is (the territory for) common affiliation and a single Uposatha there.

“In a non-village, in a wilderness, seven abbhantaras[2] all around is the (territory for) common affiliation and a single Uposatha there.

“Monks, an entire river is not a territory. An entire ocean is not a territory. An entire natural lake is not a territory.

“In a river, ocean, or natural lake, (the area) a man of average size can splash water all around is the (territory for) common affiliation and a single Uposatha there.”

(Mv.II.13.1) [165] Now at that time the Group-of-six monks mixed one territory with another.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“The transaction of whichever territory was first authorized is Dhamma, irreversible, fit to stand.

“The transaction of whichever territory was authorized afterwards is non-Dhamma, reversible, not fit to stand.

“Monks, a territory should not be mixed with (another) territory. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.”

(Mv.II.13.2) Now at that time the Group-of-six monks subsumed one territory in another.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“The transaction of whichever territory was first authorized is Dhamma, irreversible, fit to stand.

“The transaction of whichever territory was authorized afterwards is non-Dhamma, reversible, not fit to stand.

“Monks, a territory should not subsume (another) territory. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing. I allow, when a territory is being authorized, that it be authorized having set aside a buffer zone.”[3]

Notes

1.
BMCII: Chap. 13: Territories, BMCI: Pc 79: Transactions, and BMCI: NP 29.
2.
A Thai calculation puts seven abbhantaras at 98 meters; a Sri Lankan calculation, at 80.

3.
Commentary: “To be authorized having set aside a buffer zone”: In this case, if the territory of a previously built dwelling/monastery hasn’t been determined, the immediate area around the territory should be set aside. If it has been determined, then from the outermost point, a buffer zone of one cubit should be set aside. In the Kurundi it says that a span is allowable, and in the Mahāpaccari, four finger-breadths. But if one tree is a marker for two territories, when it grows it will cause a mixing of territories, so that shouldn’t be done.
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