(Mv.IX.1.1) [174] Now at that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying near Campā, on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.

And at that time, there was a village named Vāsabha in the countryside of Kāsi.

A monk of the Kassapa clan[2] was a resident there — devoted to the tradition, engaged in making an effort, (thinking,) “How could well-behaved monks who haven’t come come; how could the well-behaved monks who have come live comfortably, and this residence experience development, growth, and abundance?”[3]

Now at that time, several monks, going on a walking tour among the Kāsis, arrived at Vāsabha Village. The monk of the Kassapa clan saw the monks coming in the distance and, on seeing them, laid out seats, set out water for washing his feet, a foot-stand, and a pebble foot wiper. Having gone out to meet them, he received their bowls and robes. He asked them if they wanted drinking water, made an effort (to prepare) baths, and even made an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for them). Then the thought occurred to those incoming monks, “Friends, what a stroke of luck, this resident monk! He makes an effort (to prepare) baths, and even makes an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). Friends, lets make our residence right here at Vāsabha Village.”

So the incoming monks made their residence right there at Vāsabha Village.

(Mv.IX.1.2) Then the thought occurred to the monk of the Kassapa clan, “Whatever weariness from traveling these incoming monks had has subsided. And they, who were unfamiliar with the (alms)-range, are now familiar with it. It’s difficult to keep making an effort for those of other families for one’s whole life, and hints are displeasing to people. What if I were to not make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for them)?”

So he didn’t make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for them). Then the thought occurred to the incoming monks, “Friends, at first this resident monk made an effort (to prepare) baths, and even made an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). But now he doesn’t make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). Now he’s turned bad, this resident monk. Come on, friends, let’s suspend this resident monk!”

(Mv.IX.1.3) So the incoming monks gathered and said to the monk of the Kassapa clan, “Friend, at first you made an effort (to prepare) baths, and even made an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). But now you don’t make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). You have fallen into an offense, friend. Do you see that offense?”

“Friends, I have no offense that I should see.”

Then the incoming monks suspended the monk of the Kassapa clan for not seeing an offense. [4] The thought occurred to the monk of the Kassapa clan, “I don’t know if that is an offense or a non-offense, whether I have fallen (into an offense) or have not fallen, whether I am suspended or un-suspended, whether by a Dhamma or non-Dhamma (transaction), reversible or not, fit to stand or not. What if I were to go to Campā and ask the Blessed One about this matter?”

(Mv.IX.1.4) So the monk of the Kassapa clan put his lodgings in order and — taking his robes and bowl — set out for Campā. Traveling by stages, he went to Campā and to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, he sat to one side. It is customary for Buddhas, Blessed Ones, to exchange pleasantries with incoming monks. Then the Blessed One said to the monk of the Kassapa clan, “Is it agreeable, monk? Are you getting by? Did you come along the road with little weariness? Where are you coming from, monk?”

“It’s agreeable, O Blessed One. I’m getting by, O Blessed One. And I came along the road with little weariness, lord.

(Mv.IX.1.5) “Lord, there is a village named Vāsabha in the countryside of Kāsi. I was a resident there — devoted to the tradition, engaged in making an effort, (thinking,) ‘How could well-behaved monks who haven’t come come; how could the well-behaved monks who have come live comfortably, and this residence experience development, growth, and abundance?’

“Then several monks, going on a walking tour among the Kāsis, arrived at Vāsabha Village.

“I saw the monks coming in the distance and, on seeing them, laid out seats, set out water for washing his feet, a foot-stand, and a pebble foot wiper.

“Having gone out to meet them, I received their bowls and robes. I asked them if they wanted drinking water, made an effort (to prepare) baths, and even made an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for them).

“Then the thought occurred to those incoming monks, ‘Friends, what a stroke of luck, this resident monk! He makes an effort (to prepare) baths, and even makes an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). Friends, lets make our residence right here at Vāsabha Village.’

“So the incoming monks made their residence right there at Vāsabha Village.

“Then the thought occurred to me, ‘Whatever weariness from traveling these incoming monks had has subsided. And they, who were unfamiliar with the (alms)-range are now familiar with it. It’s difficult to keep making an effort for those of other families for one’s whole life, and hints are displeasing to people. What if I were to not make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for them)?’

“So I didn’t make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for them).

“Then the thought occurred to the incoming monks, ‘Friends, at first this resident monk made an effort (to prepare) baths, and even made an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us).

“‘But now he doesn’t make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). Now he’s turned bad, this resident monk. Come on, friends, let’s suspend this resident monk!’

“So the visiting monks gathered and said to me, ‘Friend, at first you made an effort (to prepare) baths, and even made an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us).

“‘But now you don’t make an effort (to get) conjey, non-staple foods, and staple foods (for us). You have fallen into an offense, friend. Do you see that offense?’

“‘Friends, I have no offense that I should see.’”

“Then, lord, the incoming monks suspended me for not seeing an offense.

“The thought occurred to me, ‘I don’t know if that is an offense or a non-offense, whether I have fallen (into an offense) or have not fallen, whether I am suspended or un-suspended, whether by a Dhamma or non-Dhamma (transaction), reversible or not, fit to stand or not. What if I were to go to Campā and ask the Blessed One about this matter?’

“That’s why I came here, O Blessed One.”

(Mv.IX.1.6) “Monk, that is a non-offense, not an offense. You are one who has not fallen into an offense, you are not one who has fallen into an offense. You are un-suspended, not suspended. You were suspended with a non-Dhamma transaction, reversible, not fit to stand. Go monk, make your residence right there at Vāsabha Village.”

Responding, “As you say, lord,” to the Blessed One, the monk of the Kassapa clan got up from his seat, bowed down to him, circumambulated him, keeping him to his right, and set out for Vāsabha Village.

(Mv.IX.1.7) Then those incoming monks became anxious and remorseful, (thinking,) “It’s no gain for us! It’s not a gain for us! It’s ill-gained for us! It’s not well-gained! — in that, without grounds, without reason, we suspended a pure monk, without offense.

“Come friends, let’s go to Campā and confess this transgression as such in the Blessed One’s presence.”

So the incoming monks put their lodgings in order and — taking their robes and bowls — set out for Campā. Traveling by stages, they went to Campā and to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, they sat to one side. It is customary for Buddhas, Blessed Ones, to exchange pleasantries with incoming monks. Then the Blessed One said to the monks, “Is it agreeable, monks? Are you getting by? Did you come along the road with little weariness? Where are you coming from, monks?”

“It’s agreeble, O Blessed One. We’re getting by. And we came along the road with little weariness, lord.

“Lord, there is a Village named Vāsabha in the countryside of Kāsi. We have come from there.”

(Mv.IX.1.8) “Monks, did you suspend the resident monk?”

“Yes, lord.”

“On what grounds, monks? For what reason?”

“Without grounds, O Blessed One, without reason.”

The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them, “Monks, it is unseemly, unbecoming, unsuitable, unworthy of a contemplative, improper, and not to be done. How could you worthless men, without grounds, without reason, suspend a pure monk, without offense? Worthless men, this neither inspires faith in the faithless ...”

Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks:

“Monks, a pure monk, without offense, is not to be suspended without grounds, without reason. Whoever should suspend him: an offense of wrong-doing.” [5]

(Mv.IX.1.9) Then the monks got up from their seats and — having arranged their robes over one shoulder — put their heads at the feet of the Blessed One and said to him, “A transgression has overcome us, lord, in that we were so foolish, so muddle-headed, and so unskilled as to suspend, without grounds, without reason, a pure monk, without offense. May the Blessed One please accept this confession of our transgression as such, so that we may restrain ourselves in the future.”

“Yes, monks, a transgression overcame you in that you were so foolish, so muddle-headed, and so unskilled as to suspend, without grounds, without reason, a pure monk, without offense. But because you see your transgression as such and make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept your confession. For it’s a cause of growth in the Vinaya of the noble ones when, seeing a transgression as such, one makes amends in accordance with the Dhamma and exercises restraint in the future.”