Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Instructing a householder to memorize the Teaching

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the monks from the group of six were instructing lay followers to memorize the Teaching. Those lay followers became disrespectful, undeferential, and rude toward the monks.

2The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the monks from the group of six instruct lay followers to memorize the Teaching?”

3After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “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:

6Final ruling
‘If a monk instructs a person who is not fully ordained to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

7Definitions
A:

8whoever …

9Monk:

10… 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.

11A person who is not fully ordained:

12anyone except a fully ordained monk or a fully ordained nun.

13To memorize:

14a line, the next line, the next syllable, the next phrase.

15A line:

16they start together and finish together.

17The next line:

18one of them starts, but they finish together.

19The next syllable:

20when ‘<i lang='pi' translate='no'>Rūpaṁ aniccaṁ</i>’ is being said, he prompts him, saying, ‘<i lang='pi' translate='no'>rū</i>’.

21The next phrase:

22when ‘<i lang='pi' translate='no'>Rūpaṁ aniccaṁ</i>,’ is being said, the other says, ‘<i lang='pi' translate='no'>Vedanā aniccā</i>.’

23And whatever line there is, whatever next line, whatever next syllable, whatever next phrase— this is all called “to memorize”.

24The Teaching:

25what has been spoken by the Buddha, what has been spoken by disciples, what has been spoken by sages, what has been spoken by gods, what is connected with what is beneficial, what is connected with the Teaching.

26Instructs:

27if he instructs by the line, then for every line he commits an offense entailing confession. If he instructs by the syllable, then for every syllable he commits an offense entailing confession.

28Permutations
If the person is not fully ordained, and the monk does not perceive them as such, and he instructs them to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the person is not fully ordained, but the monk is unsure of it, and he instructs them to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the person is not fully ordained, but the monk perceives them as such, and he instructs them to memorize the Teaching, he commits an offense entailing confession.

29If the person is fully ordained, but the monk does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the person is fully ordained, but the monk is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the person is fully ordained, and the monk perceives them as such, there is no offense.

30Non-offenses
There is no offense: if the recitation is done together; if they practice together; if he prompts one who is speaking a mostly familiar text; if he prompts one who is reciting; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

31The training rule on instructing a householder to memorize the Teaching, the fourth, is finished.