Defecating in water (PLI-TV-BU-VB-SK75)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on training

The subchapter on shoes

Defecating in water

Origin story

First substory

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 in water.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can the Sakyan monastics defecate, urinate, and spit in water? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

The monks heard the complaints of those people,

and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,

“How can the monks from the group of six do this?” …

“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 defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” 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, sick monks did not defecate, urinate, or spit in water.

They told the Buddha.

Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow a sick monk to defecate, urinate, or spit in water.

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

Final ruling

‘“When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’”

If one is not sick, one should not defecate, urinate, or spit in water.

If, out of disrespect, a monk who is not sick defecates, urinates, or spits in water, 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 on dry ground, but it then spreads to water;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

if he is deranged;

if he is overwhelmed by pain;

if he is the first offender.

The fifteenth training rule is finished.

The seventh subchapter on shoes is finished.

“Venerables, the rules of training have been recited.

In regard to this I ask you,

‘Are you pure in this?’

A second time I ask,

‘Are you pure in this?’

A third time I ask,

‘Are you pure in this?’

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.”

The rules of training are finished.

The chapter on training is finished.