Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Entering an inhabited area at the wrong time

1First substory
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the monks from the group of six entered the village at the wrong time, sat down in the public meeting hall, and talked about all sorts of worldly things: about kings, gangsters, and officials; about armies, dangers, and battles; about food, drink, clothes, and beds; about garlands and perfumes; about relatives, vehicles, villages, towns, and countries; about women and heroes; gossip; about the departed; about various trivialities; about the world and the sea; about the various kinds of existence.

2People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics enter the village at the wrong time, sit down in the public meeting hall, and talk about such worldly things? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

3The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can the monks from the group of six do this?” … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

4“It’s true, sir.”

5The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how can you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

6First preliminary ruling
‘If a monk enters an inhabited area at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

7In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

8Second substory
Soon afterwards a number of monks were walking through the Kosalan country on their way to Sāvatthī, when one evening they came to a certain village. People saw them and said, “Venerables, please enter the village.” But knowing that entering a village at the wrong time had been prohibited by the Buddha and being afraid of wrongdoing, they declined. And so thieves robbed them.

9They then went to Sāvatthī and told the monks what had happened, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

10“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time after informing someone.

11And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

12Second preliminary ruling
‘If a monk, without informing anyone, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

13In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

14Third substory
Soon afterwards a monk was walking through the Kosalan country on his way to Sāvatthī, when one evening he came to a certain village. People saw him and said, “Venerable, please enter the village.” But knowing that entering a village at the wrong time without informing anyone had been prohibited by the Buddha and being afraid of wrongdoing, he declined. And so thieves robbed him.

15He then went to Sāvatthī and told the monks what had happened, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

16“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time after informing an available monk.

17And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

18Third preliminary ruling
‘If a monk, when a monk is available, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing him, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

19In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

20Fourth substory
Soon afterwards a monk was bitten by a snake. Another monk went to the village to get fire. He then remembered that the Buddha has prohibited entering a village at the wrong time without informing an available monk. And being afraid of wrongdoing, he did not enter. They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

21“Monks, I allow you to enter an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing an available monk if there is some appropriate urgent business.

22And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

23Final ruling
‘If a monk, when another monk is available, enters an inhabited area at the wrong time without informing him, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

24Definitions
A:

25whoever …

26Monk:

27… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

28An available monk:

29he is able to inform him and then enter.

30No available monk:

31he is not able to inform anyone and then enter.

32At the wrong time:

33when the middle of the day has passed, until dawn.

34Enters an inhabited area:

35if he crosses the boundary of an enclosed inhabited area, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he enters the vicinity of an unenclosed inhabited area, he commits an offense entailing confession.

36Except if there is some appropriate urgent business:

37unless there is some appropriate urgent business.

38Permutations
If it is the wrong time, and he perceives it as such, and he enters an inhabited area without informing an available monk, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is the wrong time, but he is unsure of it, and he enters an inhabited area without informing an available monk, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is the wrong time, but he perceives it as the right time, and he enters an inhabited area without informing an available monk, except if there is some appropriate urgent business, he commits an offense entailing confession.

39If it is the right time, but he perceives it as the wrong time, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is the right time, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is the right time, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense.

40Non-offenses
There is no offense: if there is some appropriate urgent business; if he enters after informing an available monk; if he enters without informing anyone when there is no available monk; if he is going between monasteries; if he is going to the nunnery; if he is going to the dwelling place of the monastics of another religion; if he is returning to the monastery; if the road goes via an inhabited area; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

41The training rule on entering an inhabited area at the wrong time, the third, is finished.