Now at that time a (monk) who was previously a member of another religion, being reprimanded by his preceptor in accordance with a rule, repudiated his preceptor’s reprimand and went over to the fold of that very religion.

Coming back again, he requested Acceptance from the monks.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, one who was previously a member of another religion and who, when reprimanded by his preceptor in accordance with a rule, repudiates his preceptor’s reprimand and goes over to the fold of that very religion, on returning should not be given Acceptance.

“But whoever else was previously a member of another religion and desires the Going-forth, desires Acceptance in this Dhamma-Vinaya, is to be given probation for four months.”

“Monks, it should be given like this:

“First — having gotten him to shave his head & beard, to clothe himself in ochre robes, to arrange his robe over one shoulder, to bow down at the feet of the monks, to sit in the kneeling position, and to raise his hands palm-to-palm in front of the heart — he should be told, ‘Say this:

“‘“I go to the Buddha for refuge. I go to the Dhamma for refuge. I go to the Saṅgha for refuge. A second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge. A second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge. A second time, I go to the Saṅgha for refuge. A third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge. A third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge. A third time, I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.”’

“The previous member of another religion should go to the Saṅgha, arrange his robe over one shoulder, bow down at the feet of the monks, sit in the kneeling position, raise his hands palm-to-palm in front of the heart, and say,

“‘Venerable sirs, I, named So-and-so, previously a member of another religion, desire Acceptance in this Dhamma-vinaya.

“‘I request the Saṅgha for probation for four months.’

“He should request a second time. He should request a third time.

“An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. This So-and-so, previously a member of another religion, desires Acceptance in this Dhamma-vinaya.

“‘He requests the Saṅgha for probation for four months.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should grant So-and-so, previously a member of another religion, probation for four months.

“‘This is the motion.

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. This So-and-so, previously a member of another religion, desires Acceptance in this Dhamma-vinaya.

“‘He requests the Saṅgha for probation for four months.

“‘The Saṅgha is granting So-and-so, previously a member of another religion, probation for four months.

“‘He to whom the granting of probation of four months to So-and-so, previously a member of another religion, is agreeable should remain silent. He to whom it is not agreeable should speak.

“‘Probation for four months has been granted by the Saṅgha to So-and-so, previously a member of another religion.

“‘This is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent.

“‘Thus do I hold it.’

“Monks, this is how one who was previously a member of another religion wins approval;

“this is how he doesn’t win approval:

“And how does one who was previously a member of another religion not win approval?

“There is the case where one who was previously a member of another religion enters the village too early, returns too late in the day.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion does not win approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion associates with a prostitute, associates with a widow/divorced woman, associates with a ‘fat princess’ [old maid], associates with a paṇḍaka, associates with a bhikkhunī.

“Fat princesses”: Girls who have reached youth or passed it. They go around looking for men; they desire friendship with any (man) whatsoever.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion does not win approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion is not adept at the major and minor affairs involving his fellows in the holy life, is not dexterous, not diligent, not quick-witted in the techniques involved in them, is not able/willing to do them or arrange that they be done.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion does not win approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion does not have a keen desire for recitation, interrogation, heightened virtue, heightened mind, heightened discernment.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion does not win approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion feels angered, displeased, and upset if dispraise is spoken of the teacher, the view, the persuasion, the preferences, the belief of the religion from which he has come over.

“He feels gratified, pleased, and elated if dispraise is spoken of the Buddha, Dhamma, or Saṅgha.

“He feels gratified, pleased, and elated if praise is spoken of the teacher, the view, the persuasion, the preferences, the belief of the religion from which he has come over.

“He feels angered, displeased, and upset if praise is spoken of the Buddha, Dhamma, or Saṅgha.

“Monks, this is the tell-tale sign of one previously of another religion in regard to not winning approval.

“Monks, this is the tell-tale sign of one previously of another religion in regard to not winning approval.” It is said: “Monks, when dispraise is being spoken of his teacher or ideology, whatever displeasure, manifesting as a change in his body or speech, gratification when dispraise is being spoken of the Buddha, etc., gratification when praise is being spoken of his own teacher or ideology, or displeasure when praise is being spoken of the Buddha, etc.: This is the tell-tale sign of one previously of another religion in regard to not winning approval. This is the sign, the characteristic, and the immutable standard in regard to not winning approval, not fulfilling the performance of the duties of probation.

“Monks, this is how one who was previously a member of another religion does not win approval.

“When one previously a member of another religion who is displeasing in this way comes, he should not be given Acceptance.

“And how does one who was previously a member of another religion win approval?

“There is the case where one who was previously a member of another religion enters the village not too early, returns not too late in the day.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion wins approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion does not associate with a prostitute, does not associate with a widow/divorced woman, does not associate with a ‘fat princess’ [old maid], does not associate with a paṇḍaka, does not associate with a bhikkhunī.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion wins approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion is adept at the various affairs involving his fellows in the holy life, is dexterous, diligent, quick-witted in the techniques involved in them, is able/willing to do them or arrange that they be done.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion wins approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion has a keen desire for recitation, interrogation, heightened virtue, heightened mind, heightened discernment.

“This, too, is how one who was previously a member of another religion wins approval.

“Then again one who was previously a member of another religion feels gratified, pleased, and elated if dispraise is spoken of the teacher, the view, the persuasion, the preferences, the belief of the religion from which he has come over.

“He feels angered, displeased, and upset if dispraise is spoken of the Buddha, Dhamma, or Saṅgha.

“He feels angered, displeased, and upset if praise is spoken of the teacher, the view, the persuasion, the preferences, the belief of the religion from which he has come over.

“He feels gratified, pleased, and elated if praise is spoken of the Buddha, Dhamma, or Saṅgha.

“Monks, this is the tell-tale sign of one previously of another religion in regard to winning approval.

“Monks, this is how one who was previously a member of another religion wins approval.

“When one previously a member of another religion who wins approval in this way comes, he may be given Acceptance.

“If one who was previously a member of another religion comes naked, they should search for a robe out of the preceptor’s funds.

“They should search for a robe out of the preceptor’s funds.” Putting the preceptor in charge, they should search for a robe for him. And likewise with the bowl. So if the preceptor has a bowl and robes, he should be told, “Give them to him.” But if he doesn’t have them, and someone else wants to give them, he should give them to the preceptor, (saying,) “Make these yours and then give them to him.” Why? Sectarians are generally obstreperous. Saying, “The Saṅgha gave me my bowl and robes. Why should I be dependent on you?” he wouldn’t do as taught and admonished. But if his livelihood lies with the preceptor, he will do what he is told. So it is said, “They should search for a robe out of the preceptor’s funds.”

“If he comes without the hair of his head cut off, the Saṅgha should be informed for the sake of shaving it.

“If fire-worshipping and coiled-hair ascetics come, they may be given Acceptance. They should not be given probation.

“Why is that?

“They espouse a doctrine of kamma, they follow a doctrine of action.

“If one who was previously a member of another religion who is a Sakyan by birth comes, he may be given Acceptance. He is not to be given probation.

“I give this special privilege to my relatives.”

The Discussion of Those Previously a Member of Another Religion (is finished).

The seventh recitation section (is finished).