Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Dismissing a monk during almsround

1Origin story
On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan said to his brother’s student, “Come, let’s go to the village for alms.” Then, without getting him any food, he sent him away, saying, “Go away! I’m not comfortable talking or sitting with you, but only if I talk and sit by myself.” But since the right time for eating was coming to an end, the student was unable to walk for alms. As he returned to the monastery, there was nobody offering food, and so he missed his meal.

2He then went to the monastery and told the monks what had happened. The monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, “How could Venerable Upananda say to a monk, ‘Come, let’s go to the village for alms,’ and then send him away without getting him any food?” … “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?”

3“It’s true, sir.”

4The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

5Final ruling
‘If a monk says to a monk, “Come, let’s go to the village or town for alms,” and then, whether he has had food given to him or not, sends him away, saying, “Go away! I’m not comfortable talking or sitting with you, but only if I talk and sit by myself,” and he does so only for this reason and no other, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

6Definitions
A:

7whoever …

8Monk:

9… 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.

10To a monk:

11to another monk.

12Come … to the village or town:

13a village, also a town, also a city; both a village and a town.

14He has had food given to him:

15he has had congee, a meal, fresh food, or cooked food given to him.

16Not:

17he has not had anything given to him.

18Sends away:

19if, wanting to laugh with a woman, wanting to enjoy himself with her, wanting to sit down in private with her, wanting to misbehave with her, he says, “Go away! I’m not comfortable talking or sitting with you, but only if I talk and sit by myself,” and he sends him away, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the second monk is in the process of going beyond sight or beyond hearing, the first monk commits an offense of wrong conduct. When the second monk has gone beyond, the first monk commits an offense entailing confession.

20He does so only for this reason and no other:

21there is no other reason for sending him away.

22Permutations
If the second monk is fully ordained, and the first monk perceives him as such, and he sends him away, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the second monk is fully ordained, but the first monk is unsure of it, and he sends him away, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the second monk is fully ordained, but the first monk does not perceive him as such, and he sends him away, he commits an offense entailing confession.

23If he puts him down, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he sends away one who is not fully ordained, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he puts him down, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

24If the other is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

25Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he sends him away, thinking, “Together we won’t get enough;” if he sends him away, thinking, “If he sees these valuable goods, he’ll become greedy;” if he sends him away, thinking, “If he sees this woman, he’ll become lustful;” if he sends him away, saying, “Take congee or a meal or fresh food or cooked food to the one who is sick or to the one who is left behind or to the one who is guarding the dwellings;” if he does not want to misbehave; if he sends him away when there is something to be done; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

26The training rule on dismissing a monk during almsround, the second, is finished.