(Mv.V.10.6) [16] Now at that time the Group-of-six monks, (thinking,) “The Blessed One has prohibited high and great furnishings for reclining,” used large skins, (such as) a lion skin, a tiger skin, a leopard skin. These were cut to the size of a bed, cut to the size of a bench, laid out on the inner side of a bed, laid out on the outer side of a bed, laid out on the inner side of a bench, laid out on the outer side of a bench.

People wandering on a tour of the dwellings, on seeing them, criticized and complained and spread it about, “Just like householders who partake of sensuality.”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Large skins, (such as) a lion skin, a tiger skin, a leopard skin, should not be used. Whoever should use them: an offense of wrong doing.”[1]

(Mv.V.10.7) [17] Now at that time the Group-of-six monks, (thinking,) “The Blessed One has prohibited large skins,” used cow-hides. These were cut to the size of a bed, cut to the size of a bench, laid out on the inner side of a bed, laid out on the outer side of a bed, laid out on the inner side of a bench, laid out on the outer side of a bench.

A certain evil monk was intimate with the family of a certain evil lay follower (for alms).

Then the evil monk, early in the morning — having adjusted his under robe and taking his bowl & outer robe — went to the residence of the evil lay follower and, on arrival, sat down on a seat laid out.

Then the evil lay follower went to the evil monk and, on arrival, having bowed down to the evil monk, sat to one side.

(Mv.V.10.8) Now at that time the evil lay follower had a calf — young, handsome, good-looking, striking, marked like a leopard cub. Then the evil monk stared intently at the calf. The evil lay follower said to him, “Venerable sir, why is the master staring intently at this calf?”

“I could use this calf’s hide, friend.”

Then the evil lay follower, having killed the calf, removed the hide and gave it to the evil monk. Then the evil monk, wrapping the hide in his outer robe, left.

(Mv.V.10.9) Then the cow, longing for her calf, followed along behind the evil monk. The monks said to him, “Friend, why it this cow following along behind you?”

“Friends, I don’t know why this cow is following along behind me.”

Now on that occasion the evil monk’s outer robe was stained with blood. The monks said to him, “But friend, what happened to your outer robe?”

Then the evil monk reported the matter to the monks.

“But friend, did you incite (another) to kill a living being?”

“Yes, friends.”

Those monks who were modest … criticized and complained and spread it about:

“How can a monk incite (another) to kill a living being? Hasn’t the Blessed One criticized, through many lines of reasoning, the killing of living beings, and praised refraining from the killing of living beings?”

(Mv.V.10.10) Then the monks reported the matter to the Blessed One.

[18] Then the Blessed One, with regard to this cause, to this incident, had the monks assembled and asked the evil monk:

“Monk, is it true, as they say, that you incited (another) to kill a living being?”

“It’s true, O Blessed One.”

The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him, “Worthless man, how can you incite (another) to kill a living being? Haven’t I criticized, through many lines of reasoning, the killing of living beings, and praised refraining from the killing of living beings?”

“Worthless man, this neither inspires faith in the faithless ...”

Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks:

“One should not incite (another) to kill a living being. Whoever should incite is to be dealt with in accordance with the rule.”[2]

“And one should not make use of a cow-hide. Whoever should make use of one: an offense of wrong doing.

“One should not make use of any hide. Whoever should make use of one: an offense of wrong doing.” [3]