Now on that occasion a certain monk fell sick.

He sent a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) “BecauseI am sick, may the monks come. I want monks to come.”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow you to go for seven-day business for five (classes of people) even when not sent for, all the more if sent for: a monk, a bhikkhunī, a female trainee, a novice, a female novice. I allow you to go for seven-day business for these five (classes of people) even when not sent for, all the more if sent for. The return should be made in seven days.

“There is a case where a monk falls sick.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after his health) or will tend to him.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where dissatisfaction (with the holy life) has arisen in a monk.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because dissatisfaction has arisen in me, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will allay his dissatisfaction, or get someone to allay it, or I will give a Dhamma talk to him.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where anxiety (over the rules) has arisen in a monk.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because anxiety has arisen in me, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will dispel his anxiety, or get someone to dispel it, or I will give a Dhamma talk to him.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where an (extreme) viewpoint[1] has arisen in a monk.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because an (extreme) viewpoint has arisen in me, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will pry him away from his viewpoint, or get someone to pry him away from it, or I will give a Dhamma talk to him.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a monk has committed a heavy offense (a saṅghādisesa) and deserves probation.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I have committed a heavy offense and deserve probation, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort to grant him probation or will make the proclamation or will be one who completes the group (needed to grant him probation).’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a monk deserves to be sent back to the beginning.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I deserve to be sent back to the beginning, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort to send him back to the beginning or will make the proclamation or will be one who completes the group (needed to send him back to the beginning).’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a monk deserves penance.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I deserve penance, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort to grant him penance or will make the proclamation or will be one who completes the group (needed to grant him probation).’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a monk deserves rehabilitation.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I deserve rehabilitation, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for his rehabilitation or will make the proclamation or will be one who completes the group (needed to grant him rehabilitation).’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where the Saṅgha desires to carry out a transaction against a monk: one of censure or demotion or banishment or reconciliation or suspension.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘(Because) the Saṅgha desires to carry out a transaction against me, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘How then may the Saṅgha not carry out the transaction or change it to something lighter?’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Or a Saṅgha has carried out a transaction against him — censure or demotion or banishment or reconciliation or suspension.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘(Because) the Saṅgha has carried out a transaction against me, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘How then may he conduct himself properly, lower his hackles, and mend his ways so that the Saṅgha can rescind the transaction?’ The return should be made in seven days.”

“There is a case where a bhikkhunī falls sick.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after her health) or will tend to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where dissatisfaction (with the holy life) has arisen in a bhikkhunī.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘(Because) dissatisfaction has arisen in me, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will allay her dissatisfaction, or get someone to allay it, or I will give a Dhamma talk to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where anxiety (over the rules) has arisen in a bhikkhunī.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘(Because) anxiety has arisen in me, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will dispel her anxiety, or get someone to dispel it, or I will give a Dhamma talk to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where an (extereme) viewpoint has arisen in a bhikkhunī.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘(Because) an (extereme) viewpoint has arisen in me, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will pry her away from her viewpoint, or get someone to pry her away from it, or I will give a Dhamma talk to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a bhikkhunī has committed a heavy offense[2] and deserves penance.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I have committed a heavy offense and deserve penance, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for her being granted penance[3].’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a bhikkhunī deserves to be sent back to the beginning.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I deserve to be sent back to the beginning, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for her being sent back to the beginning.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a bhikkhunī deserves rehabilitation.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I deserve rehabilitation, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for her rehabilitation.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where the Saṅgha desires to carry out a transaction against a bhikkhunī — censure or demotion or banishment or reconciliation or suspension.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because the Saṅgha desires to carry out a transaction against me, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘How then may the Saṅgha not carry out the transaction or change it to something lighter?’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Or a Saṅgha has carried out a transaction against her — censure or demotion or banishment or reconciliation or suspension.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because the Saṅgha has carried out a transaction against me, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘How then may she conduct herself properly, lower her hackles, and mend her ways so that the Saṅgha can rescind the transaction?’ The return should be made in seven days.”

“There is a case where a female trainee falls sick.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after her health) or will tend to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where dissatisfaction (with the holy life) has arisen in a female trainee.

“anxiety has arisen.

“an (extreme) viewpoint has arisen.

“her training has been interrupted.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because my training has been interrupted, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for her to undertake the training (again).’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a female trainee desires Acceptance.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I desire Acceptance, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for her Acceptance or will make the proclamation or will be one who completes the group (needed for her Acceptance)’ The return should be made in seven days.

“There is a case where a male novice falls sick.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after his health) or will tend to him.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where dissatisfaction (with the holy life) has arisen in a male novice. …

“anxiety has arisen.

“an (extereme) viewpoint has arisen.

“… wants to ask about his age[4].

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I want to be asked about my age, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will ask or I will explain,’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where a male novice desires Acceptance.

“If he should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I desire Acceptance, may the monks come. I want monks to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for his Acceptance or will make the proclamation or will be one who completes the group (needed for his Acceptance),’ The return should be made in seven days.

“There is a case where a female novice falls sick.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after her health) or will tend to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

“Monks, there is the case where dissatisfaction (with the holy life) has arisen in a female novice.

“anxiety has arisen.

“an (extereme) viewpoint has arisen.

“wants to ask about her age (in preparation for ordination) …

“desires to undertake the (female trainee’s) training.

“If she should send a messenger to the presence of the monks, (saying,) ‘Because I desire to undertake the training, may the masters come. I want the masters to come,’

“one may go on seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will make an effort for her to undertake the training,’ The return should be made in seven days.”