Holding a sunshade (PLI-TV-BU-VB-SK57)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on training

The subchapter on slurping

Holding a sunshade

Origin story

First substory

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Bhagga country at Susumāragira in the Bhesakaḷā Grove,

the monks from the group of six gave teachings to people holding a sunshade.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,

“How can the monks from the group of six give teachings to people holding a sunshade?” …

“Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“Foolish men, how can you do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade,” this is how you should train.’”

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

Second substory

Soon afterwards, being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not give teachings to sick people holding a sunshade.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can the Sakyan monastics not give teachings to someone who’s sick holding a sunshade?”

The monks heard the complaints of those people,

and they told the Buddha.

Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to give a teaching to someone who’s sick holding a sunshade.

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

Final ruling

‘“I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade who is not sick,” this is how you should train.’”

Definitions

A sunshade:

there are three kinds of sunshades: the white sunshade, the reed sunshade, the leaf sunshade. They are bound at the rim and bound at the ribs.¹

Teaching:

what has been spoken by the Buddha, what has been spoken by disciples, what has been spoken by sages, what has been spoken by gods, what is connected with what is beneficial, what is connected with the Teaching.

Give:

if he teaches by the line, then for every line he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If he teaches by the syllable, then for every syllable he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

One should not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade who is not sick.

If a monk, out of disrespect, gives a teaching to someone holding a sunshade who is not sick, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if it is unintentional;

if he is not mindful;

if he does not know;

if he is sick;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The seventh training rule is finished.