Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Going to see a mobilized army

1First substory
On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, King Pasenadi of Kosala was marching out with the army, and the monks from the group of six went to see it. When King Pasenadi saw the monks coming, he summoned them and said, “Venerables, why have you come here?”

2“We wish to see the great king.”

3“What’s the use of seeing me finding pleasure in battle? Shouldn’t you see the Buddha?”

4And people complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics go to see the army? It’s our misfortune that we must go out with the army for the sake of our livelihoods and because of our wives and children.”

5The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How could the monks from the group of six go to see the army?” … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

6“It’s true, sir.”

7The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

8Preliminary ruling
‘If a monk goes to see an army, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

9In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

10Second substory
Soon afterwards a certain monk had a sick uncle in the army. The uncle sent a message to that monk: “I’m with the army and I’m sick. Please come, venerable. I want you to come.”

11Knowing that the Buddha had laid down a rule against going to see an army, that monk thought, “I have a sick uncle in the army. What should I do now?” And he told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

12“Monks, I allow you to go to the army when there’s a suitable reason.

13And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

14Final ruling
‘If a monk goes to see an army, except if there is a suitable reason, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

15Definitions
A:

16whoever …

17Monk:

18… 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.

19An army:

20it has left the inhabited area and is either encamped or marching.

21An army:

22elephants, horses, chariots, infantry. An elephant has twelve men; a horse has three men; a chariot has four men; an infantry unit has four men with arrows in hand.

23If he is on his way to see it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to see it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Every time he goes beyond the range of sight and then sees it again, he commits an offense entailing confession.

24Except if there is a suitable reason:

25unless there is a suitable reason.

26Permutations
If it is an army, and he perceives it as such, and he goes to see it, except if there is a suitable reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an army, but he is unsure of it, and he goes to see it, except if there is a suitable reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an army, but he does not perceive it as such, and he goes to see it, except if there is a suitable reason, he commits an offense entailing confession.

27If he is on his way to see one division of a fourfold army, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to see it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Every time he goes beyond the range of sight and then sees it again, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

28If it is not an army, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not an army, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not an army, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

29Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he sees it while standing in a monastery; if the army comes to where the monk is standing, sitting, or lying down; if he sees it while walking in the opposite direction; if he has a suitable reason; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

30The training rule on going to see a mobilized army, the eighth, is finished.