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Mv VI 20
PTS: Mv VI 32 | CS: vin.mv.06.20
Kappiyabhūmianujānanā
The Allowance for a Proper (Storage) Place
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: 'line by line' Pāḷi - English

(Mv.VI.32.1) [81] Now at that time Vesālī was well-stocked with food and the crops were good. Almsfood was easy to obtain and it was easy to keep oneself going by gathering offerings. Then, as the Blessed One was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in his awareness:

“Those things that were allowed by me for the monks when food was scarce, crops bad, and almsfood difficult to obtain: what was stored indoors, cooked indoors, cooked by oneself, accepting formally what was picked up; what was taken back from there; what was formally accepted before the meal; what grows in the woods; what grows in a lotus pond: Are the monks still making use of them even today?”

Then, when it was evening, the Blessed One rose from his seclusion and addressed Ven. Ānanda,

“Those things that were allowed by me for the monks when food was scarce, crops bad, and almsfood difficult to obtain: what was stored indoors, cooked indoors, cooked by oneself, accepting formally what was picked up; what was taken back from there; what was formally accepted before the meal; what grows in the woods; what grows in a lotus pond: Are the monks still making use of them even today?”

“They are making use of them, Blessed One.”

(Mv.VI.32.2) Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Those things that were allowed by me for the monks when food was scarce, crops bad, and almsfood difficult to obtain: what was stored indoors, cooked indoors, cooked by oneself, accepting formally what was picked up; what was taken back from there; what was formally accepted before the meal; what grows in the woods; what grows in a lotus pond: From this day forward I rescind them.[1]]

“One should not consume what is stored indoors, cooked indoors, cooked by oneself; or what was formally accepted after having been picked up: Whoever should consume it: an offense of wrong doing. [2]

“Nor should one, having eaten and refused (further food), consume food that is not left over if it has been brought back from there (the place where the meal was offered), if it was formally accepted before the meal, if it grows in the woods or a lotus pond. Whoever should consume these is to be dealt with in accordance with the rule.”[3]

(Mv.VI.33.1) [82] Now on that occasion, people in the countryside, loading carts with a large quantity of salt, oil, husked rice, and staple foods, circled their wagons outside the gatehouse of the monastery and waited, (thinking,) “When it’s our turn, then we’ll make a meal.”

A large cloud rose up. So they went to Ven. Ānanda and, on arrival, said to him, “Here, venerable sir, we have loaded up a large quantity of salt, oil, husked rice, and staple foods in wagons, and they are waiting.”

“But a large cloud has risen up. What should we do?”

Then Ven. Ānanda reported the matter to the Blessed One.

(Mv.VI.33.2) “In that case, Ānanda, the Saṅgha, having authorized a building on the perimeter (of the monastery) as a proper (storage) place, let it (food) be kept there — whichever the Saṅgha desires: a dwelling, a barrel-vaulted building, a multi-storied building, a gabled building, a cell.”[4]

“Monks, it should be authorized like this:

“An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. If the Saṅgha is ready, it should authorize such-and-such dwelling as a proper (storage) place.

“‘This is the motion.

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. The Saṅgha is authorizing such-and-such dwelling as a proper (storage) place.

“‘He to whom the authorization of such-and-such dwelling as a proper (storage) place is agreeable should remain silent. He to whom it is not agreeable should speak.

“‘Such-and-such dwelling has been authorized by the Saṅgha as a proper (storage) place.

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

“‘Thus do I hold it.’”

(Mv.VI.33.3) Now at that time, right there in the authorized proper (storage) place, people were cooking conjey, cooking meals, preparing curries, pulverizing meat, splitting firewood, and making a shrill noise, a great noise.[5] As the night was ending, the Blessed One got up and heard the shrill noise, the great noise, like the sound of crows calling. On hearing it, he addressed Ven. Ānanda, “Ānanda, what is that shrill noise, that great noise, like the sound of crows calling?”

(Mv.VI.33.4) “Lord, at this time, right there in the authorized proper (storage) place, people are cooking conjey, cooking meals, preparing curries, pulverizing meat, and splitting firewood. That’s the shrill noise, the great noise, like the sound of crows calling.”

Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Monks, one should not make use of an authorized proper (storage) place. Whoever makes use of one: an offense of wrong doing.

“I allow three types of proper (storage) places: conterminous with the proclamation, a cattle-resting (place), a lay-person’s (place).”

(Mv.VI.33.5) Now at that time Ven. Yasoja was sick. Medicine was brought for him. The monks stored it outside. Small animals chewed on it, and thieves took it. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow that an authorized proper (storage) place be used.

“I allow four types of proper (storage) places: conterminous with the proclamation, a cattle-resting (place), a lay-person’s (place), and authorized.”

Notes

1.
BMCI: Pc 35, and BMCI: Pc 40: Effort.
2.
BMCI: Pc38: Non-offenses.
3.
BMCI: Pc 35
4.
BMCII Chap. 7: Food storage place, and BMCI: Pc38: Non-offenses.
5.
tena kho pana samayena manussā tattheva sammatikāya kappiyabhūmiyā yāguyo pacanti bhattāni pacanti sūpāni sappādenti [me: sampādenti] maṁsāni koṭṭenti kaṭṭhāni phālenti uccāsaddaṁ mahāsaddaṁ karonti.
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