Then, as the Blessed One was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in his awareness:

“What if I were to allow the monks the recitation of a collection [Mv.II.3.4] of the rules I have laid down for them? That will be their Uposatha transaction.”

Then, when it was evening, the Blessed One rose from seclusion and, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Monks, just now, as I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness: ‘What if I were to allow the monks the recitation of a collection of the rules I have laid down for them? That will be their Uposatha transaction.’

“Monks, I allow you to recite the Pāṭimokkha.”

“And, monks, it should be recited like this:

“An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. If the Saṅgha is ready, let it perform the Uposatha, let it recite the Pāṭimokkha.

“‘What is the Saṅgha’s preliminary duty?

“‘Let the venerable ones announce purity[1].

“‘I will recite the Pāṭimokkha.

“‘May all of us who are present listen well and pay attention.

“‘If anyone has an offense, let him reveal it. Those without offense should remain silent.

“‘By their silence I will know that the venerable ones are pure.

“‘Just as, when questioned individually, one should answer, the same holds true when in such an assembly (as this), the declaration (at the end of each class of offense) is made three times.

“‘Should any monk, when the declaration is made up to the third time, remember an existing offense but not reveal it, he has a deliberate lie. [BMC]

“‘And the Blessed One has declared a deliberate lie to be an obstruction.

“‘Therefore any monk with an offense, on remembering it and aiming at purity, should reveal his existing offense.

“‘Having revealed it, he will have peace.’”

‘Pāṭimokkha’: It is the beginning, the entrance, and the foremost of skillful qualities, therefore it is called ‘Pāṭimokkha’[2].

There ‘Pāṭimokkha’ (means) the virtue of the training rules. ‘For one who keeps watch and guards it, it frees and releases him from the sufferings of the realms of deprivation, etc.’: pāṭimokkha.

‘In the Pāṭimokkha’: the Pāṭimokkha (means) over-release, heightened virtue, or ‘He keeps watch over[3] the various kinds of bias and (it) releases him from and dangers of unfortunate births — whoever keeps watch over it, it releases him,’ (so) it is called ‘Pāṭimokkha’.

‘He doesn’t know the Pāṭimokkha’: He doesn’t know the two lists.

‘Āyasmant’: It is a term of endearment, a term of respect, a respectful and deferential term: ‘Āyasmant’

‘I will recite’: I will declare it, teach it, describe it, set it forth, reveal it, explain it, make it plain, and expound it.

‘It’: refers to the Pāṭimokkha.

‘All who are present’: To the extent that there are, in the assembly, elder, new (monks), and (monks of) middling (seniority) — these are called, ‘all who are present’.

‘May we listen well’: Having paid attention and taken it to heart, may we gather it all in with the mind.

‘Pay attention’: We attend to it singleminded[4], undistracted, with an undisturbed mind.

‘If anyone has an offense’: A certain offense in the five classes[5] of offense or a certain offense in the seven classes of offense, of an elder, a new (monk), or (a monk of) middling (seniority).

‘Let him reveal it’: Let him show it, reveal it, make it plain, and announce it, either in the midst of the Saṅgha, in the midst of a group, in the presence of a single individual.

‘One without offense[6]’ means he hasn’t fallen into (an offense) or, having fallen, he has been rehabilitated (from that offense).

‘Should remain silent’: He should consent, and not speak.

‘I will know that (the venerable ones) are pure’: I will understand and remember.

‘Just as, when questioned individually, one should answer’: Just as, when questioned one-on-one, one would answer, in the same way it should be understood of the assembly that, “It [the Saṅgha] is questioning me.”

‘Such an assembly’: refers to an assembly of monks.

‘The declaration is made up to the third time’: There is a single declaration, and then there is the second declaration, and then there is the third declaration.

‘Remembering’: knowing it, perceiving it.

‘An existing (offense)’: He has fallen into an offense, or, having fallen into it, he hasn’t been rehabilitated.

‘Should he not reveal it’: Should he not show it, reveal it, make it plain, or announce it either in the midst of the Saṅgha, in the midst of a group, or in the presence of one individual.

‘He has a deliberate lie’: In the case of a deliberate lie, what is it? It’s (an offense of) wrong-doing. [BMC: 1 2]

‘The Blessed One has declared a deliberate lie to be an obstruction’: An obstruction to what?

An obstruction to the attainment of the first jhāna, an obstruction to the attainment of the second jhāna, an obstruction to the attainment of the third jhāna, an obstruction to the attainment of the fourth jhāna, an obstruction to the attainment of the jhānas, liberations, concentrations, attainments, escapes through renunciation, seclusion, and skillful qualities.

‘Therefore’: because of that.

‘By one remembering’: by one knowing and perceiving.

‘By one aiming at purity’: By one desiring to be rehabilitated, desiring to be purified.

‘An existing offense’: He has fallen into it, or, having fallen into it, he hasn’t been rehabilitated.

‘Should reveal’: should reveal it either in the midst of the Saṅgha, in the midst of a group, or in the presence of one individual.

‘Having revealed it, he will have peace.’ The peace of what?

He will have the peace of the attainment of the first jhāna, the peace of the attainment of the second jhāna, the peace of the attainment of the third jhāna, the peace of the attainment of the fourth jhāna, the peace of the attainment of the jhānas, liberations, concentrations, attainments, escapes through renunciation, seclusion, and skillful qualities.

Now at that time the monks, (thinking,) “The Blessed One has allowed the Pāṭimokkha to be recited,” recited it daily.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, the Pāṭimokkha should not be recited daily. Whoever should recite it daily: an offense of wrong doing.

“I allow that the Pāṭimokkha be recited on the Uposatha day.”

Now at that time the monks, (thinking,) “the Blessed One has allowed the Pāṭimokkha to be recited on the Uposatha day,” recited the Pāṭimokkha three times in a fortnight: the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth (day) of the fortnight.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, the Pāṭimokkha should not be recited three times in the fortnight. Whoever should recite it three times in the half-month: an offense of wrong doing.

“I allow the Pāṭimokkha to be recited once during the fortnight, on the fourteenth or fifteenth day.”

Now at that time the Group-of-six monks recited the Pāṭimokkha by grouping, each with his own grouping.

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, the Pāṭimokkha should not be recited by grouping, each with his own grouping.

“I allow an Uposatha transaction for those who are united.” [BMC]

Then the thought occurred to the monks, “The Blessed One has laid down an Uposatha transaction for those who are united. To what extent is there unity? To the extent of one residence (monastery) or of the whole Earth?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow that the extent of unity be to the extent of one residence (monastery).” [BMC]