Defecating on cultivated plants (PLI-TV-BU-VB-SK74)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on training

The subchapter on shoes

Defecating on cultivated plants

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time the monks from the group of six were defecating, urinating, and spitting on cultivated plants. …

Final ruling

“‘When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit on cultivated plants,’ this is how you should train.”¹

If one is not sick, one should not defecate, urinate, or spit on cultivated plants.

If, out of disrespect, a monk who is not sick defecates, urinates, or spits on cultivated plants, 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 he does it in a place with no cultivated plants, but it then spreads to cultivated plants;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The fourteenth training rule is finished.