Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans.) (AN 8.20); Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Widom Quarterly
Lunar Observance Discourse (Uposatha Sutra)
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| I sense a rotten apple in our midst. |
SC 1 On one occasion the Blessed One (the Buddha) was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Migāra’s Mother’s Mansion in the Eastern Park.
Now on that occasion, on the day of the lunar observance (Buddhist "Sabbath" or uposatha), the Blessed One was sitting surrounded by the Community (saṅgha) of Monastics.
Then, as the night advanced, when the first watch passed, Venerable Ānanda [the Buddha’s attendant] rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, reverently saluted the Blessed One, and said to him:
“Bhante, the night has advanced; the first watch has passed; the Monastic Community has been sitting for a long time. Let the Blessed One recite the [major] Monastic Disciplinary Rules (Pātimokkha or Path to Liberation) to the monastics.”
When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. [an.iv.205]
SC 2 As the night advanced still further, when the middle watch passed, Ven. Ānanda rose from his seat a second time, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, reverently saluted the Blessed One, and said to him:
“Bhante, the night has advanced still further; the middle watch has passed; the Monastic Community has been sitting for a long time. Bhante, let the Blessed One recite the Monastic Disciplinary Code to the monastics.” A second time the Blessed One remained silent.
SC 3 As the night advanced still further, when the last watch passed, when dawn arrived and a rosy tint appeared on the horizon, Ven. Ānanda rose from his seat a third time, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, reverently saluted the Blessed One, and said to him:
“Bhante, the night has advanced still further; the last watch has passed; dawn has arrived, and a rosy tint has appeared on the horizon; the Monastic Community has been sitting for a long time. Let the Blessed One recite the Monastic Disciplinary Code to the monastics.”
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| How to recite the purification among the impure? |
SC 4 Then it occurred to Ven. Mahā Moggallāna [foremost in psychic powers]: “What person was the Blessed One referring to when he said: ‘This assembly, Ānanda, is impure’?”
Then Ven. Mahā Moggallāna fixed his attention on the entire Monastic Community, encompassing their minds with his own mind. He then saw that person sitting in the midst of the Monastic Saṅgha: one who was
- immoral,
- of bad character,
- impure,
- of suspect behavior,
- secretive in his actions,
- not an ascetic though claiming to be one,
- not a celibate though claiming to be one,
- inwardly rotten,
- corrupt,
- depraved.
When this was said, that person remained silent.
SC 5 A second time…[And] a third time Ven. Mahā Moggallāna said to that person: an.iv.206 “Get up, friend. The Blessed One has seen you. You cannot live in communion with the monastics.” A third time that person remained silent.
SC 6 Then Ven. Mahā Moggallāna grabbed that person by the arm, evicted him through the outer gatehouse, and bolted the door. Then he returned to the Blessed One and said to him:“I have evicted that person, Bhante. The assembly is now pure. Let the Blessed One recite the Monastic Disciplinary Code to the monastics.”
SC 7 “It’s astounding and amazing, Moggallāna, how that hollow man waited until he was grabbed by the arm.”
Then the Blessed One addressed the assembly: “Now, monastics, you yourselves should conduct the lunar observance (uposatha) and recite the Monastic Disciplinary Code (Pātimokkha).
“From today onward, I will no longer do so. It is impossible and inconceivable that the Tathāgata could conduct the lunar observance and recite the Monastic Disciplinary Code in an impure assembly.
SC 8 “The titans (asuras), monastics, see these eight astounding and amazing qualities in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it. What eight?
SC 9 (1) “The great ocean, monastics, slants, slopes, and inclines [deepens] gradually, not dropping off abruptly. This is the first astounding and amazing quality that the titans see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it….
All as in 8:19, but addressed to the monastics.
SC 10 (8) “Again, the great ocean is the abode of great beings… an.iv.207… 500 yojanas long. This is the eighth astounding and amazing quality that the titans see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it.
SC 11 “These, monastics, are the eight astounding and amazing qualities that the titans see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it. So too, the monastics see eight astounding and amazing qualities in this Doctrine (Dharma) and Discipline (Vinaya, summarized the Patimokkha or Monastic Disciplinary Code) because of which they take delight in it. What eight?
SC 12 (1) “Just as, monastics, the great ocean slants, slopes, and inclines gradually, not dropping off abruptly so, too, in this Doctrine and Discipline penetration to final knowledge [enlightenment and nirvana] occurs by gradual training, gradual activity, and gradual practice, not abruptly. This is the first astounding and amazing quality that the monastics see in this Doctrine and Discipline because of which they take delight in it….
All as in 8:19, but addressed to the monastics.
SC 13 (8) “Just as the great ocean is the abode of great beings… 500 yojanas [an.iv.208] long so, too, this Doctrine and Discipline is the abode of great beings:
- the stream-enterer,
- the one practicing for the realization of the fruit of stream-entry
- the once-returner
- the one practicing for the realization of the fruit of once-returning
- the non-returner
- the one practicing for the realization of the fruit of non-returning
- the arahant (fully enlightened disciple)
- the one practicing for full enlightenment.
SC 14 “These, monastics, are the eight astounding and amazing qualities that the monastics see in this Doctrine and Discipline because of which they take delight in it.” SuttaCentral.net — Discourses
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