(Mv.I.76.1) [142] Now at that time there were seen to be lepers, those with boils, ringworm, tuberculosis, or epilepsy, who had been given Acceptance.[2]

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow, when giving Acceptance, that thirteen obstructing factors be asked about.

“This is how they should be asked about: ‘Do you have any diseases such as these: leprosy? boils? ringworm? tuberculosis? epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a free man? Are you free from debt? Are you exempt from government service? Do you have your parents’ permission? Are you fully twenty years old? Are your bowl and robes complete? What is your name? What is your preceptor’s name?’”

(Mv.I.76.2) Now on that occasion monks asked candidates for Acceptance who had not been instructed about the obstructing factors.

The candidates for Acceptance were bashful and embarrassed. They couldn’t answer.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow that, having first having instructed (the candidate), the thirteen obstructing factors be asked about afterwards.”

(Mv.I.76.3) They instructed them right there in the midst of the Saṅgha.

Because of that, the candidates for Acceptance were bashful and embarrassed. They couldn’t answer.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow that, having instructed (the candidate) off to one side, the obstructing factors be asked about in the midst of the Saṅgha.

“And this is how he is to be instructed:[3]

“First he should be made to take a preceptor[4]

“After he has been made to take a preceptor, he should be told about the robes and bowl: ‘This is your bowl, this your outer robe, this your upper robe, this your lower robe. Go stand in that spot over there.’”

(Mv.I.76.4) Inexperienced, incompetent monks instructed them. Having been poorly instructed, the candidates for Acceptance were bashful and embarrassed. They couldn’t answer.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“An inexperienced, incompetent monk should not instruct (a candidate). Whoever should so instruct him: an offense of wrong doing.

“I allow that an experienced, competent monk instruct (a candidate).”

(Mv.I.76.5) They instructed them without having been authorized.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, a monk who is not authorized should not instruct (a candidate). Whoever should so instruct him: an offense of wrong doing.

“I allow that an authorized monk instruct (a candidate).

“And this is how he should be authorized:

“One should be authorized by oneself, or one should be authorized by another.

“And how should one be authorized by oneself?

“An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha: ’Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is Venerable So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, I will instruct So-and-so.’

“This is how one should be authorized by oneself.

(Mv.I.76.6) “And how should one be authorized by another?

“An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha: ’Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is Venerable So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, So-and-so will instruct So-and-so.’

“This is how one should be authorized by another.

(Mv.I.76.7) “The monk who has been authorized should approach the candidate and say to him,

“‘Listen, So-and-so. This is the time for the truth, the time for what is factual. They ask, in the midst of the Saṅgha, about what has occurred. Whatever is so should be affirmed. Whatever is not should be denied.

“‘Don’t be bashful.

“‘Don’t be embarrassed.

“‘They will ask you as follows:

“‘Do you have any diseases such as these:

“‘leprosy?

“‘boils?

“‘ringworm?

“‘tuberculosis?

“‘epilepsy?

“‘Are you a human being?

“‘Are you a man?

“‘Are you a free man?

“‘Are you free from debt?

“‘Are you exempt from government service?

“‘Do you have your parents’ permission?

“‘Are you fully 20 years old?

“‘Are your bowl and robes complete?

“‘What is your name?

“‘What is your Preceptor’s name?’”

(Mv.I.76.8) They came in together.

“They should not come in together.

“The instructor should come in first and inform the Saṅgha: ‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is Venerable So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance.

“‘He has been instructed by me.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, let So-and-so come here.’

“He should be told, ‘Come here.’

“Having arranged his robes over one shoulder, he should bow down at the feet of the monks, and then sit in the kneeling position with his hands placed palm-to-palm over the heart and be made to request Acceptance:

“‘Venerable sirs, I request Acceptance from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha raise me up out of kindness.

“‘A second time, venerable sirs, I request Acceptance from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha raise me up out of kindness.

“‘A third time, venerable sirs, I request Acceptance from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha raise me up out of kindness.’

(Mv.I.76.9) “An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, I will ask So-and-so about the obstructing factors.’

“‘Listen, So-and-so. This is your time for the truth, your time for what is factual. I ask you about things that have occurred.

“‘Whatever is so should be affirmed. Whatever is not should be denied. Do you have any diseases such as these: leprosy? boils? ringworm? tuberculosis? epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a free man? Are you free from debt? Are you exempt from government service? Do you have your parents’ permission? Are you fully twenty years old? Are your bowl and robes complete? What is your name? What is your preceptor’s name?’

(Mv.I.76.10) “An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha: ‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance. He is free of the obstructing factors.[5]

“‘His bowl and robes are complete.

“‘So-and-so requests Acceptance from the Saṅgha, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should give So-and-so Acceptance with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘This is the motion.

(Mv.I.76.11) “‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance. He is free of the obstructing factors.

“‘His bowl and robes are complete.

“‘So-and-so requests Acceptance from the Saṅgha, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘The Saṅgha is giving So-and-so Acceptance, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘He to whom the Acceptance of So-and-so with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor is agreeable should remain silent. He to whom it is not agreeable should speak.

(Mv.I.76.12) “‘A second time I speak about this matter.

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance. He is free of the obstructing factors.

“‘His bowl and robes are complete.

“‘So-and-so requests Acceptance from the Saṅgha, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘The Saṅgha is giving So-and-so Acceptance, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘He to whom the Acceptance of So-and-so with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor is agreeable should remain silent. He to whom it is not agreeable should speak.

“‘A third time I speak about this matter.

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. So-and-so is So-and-so’s candidate for Acceptance. He is free of the obstructing factors.

“‘His bowl and robes are complete.

“‘So-and-so requests Acceptance from the Saṅgha, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘The Saṅgha is giving So-and-so Acceptance, with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘He to whom the Acceptance of So-and-so with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor is agreeable should remain silent. He to whom it is not agreeable should speak.

“‘So-and-so has been accepted by the Saṅgha with Venerable So-and-so as preceptor.

“‘This is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent.

“‘Thus do I hold it.’”

The (section on the) Acceptance transaction is finished.