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69. Nīcāsanasikkhāpada

The training rule on low seats

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa dhammaṁ desenti.
At that time the monks from the group of six were sitting on low seats while giving teachings to people sitting on high seats.

Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa dhammaṁ desessantī”ti …pe…
“How can the monks from the group of six sit on low seats while giving teachings to people sitting on high seats?” …

“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa dhammaṁ desethā”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
“It’s true, Sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…
The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa dhammaṁ desessatha.
“Foolish men, how can you do this?

Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…
This will affect people’s confidence …”

vigarahitvā …pe…
After rebuking them …

dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, bārāṇasiyaṁ aññatarassa chapakassa pajāpati gabbhinī ahosi.
“Once upon a time in Bārāṇasī, monks, there was a low-caste man whose wife became pregnant.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sā chapakī taṁ chapakaṁ etadavoca—
She said to him,

‘gabbhinīmhi, ayyaputta.
‘I’m pregnant.

Icchāmi ambaṁ khāditun’ti.
I crave mangoes.’

‘Natthi ambaṁ, akālo ambassā’ti.
‘But there are no mangoes. It’s the wrong season.’

‘Sace na labhissāmi marissāmī’ti.
‘If I don’t get any, I’ll die.’

Tena kho pana samayena rañño ambo dhuvaphalo hoti.
At that time the king had a mango tree that was always bearing fruit.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, so chapako yena so ambo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ ambaṁ abhiruhitvā nilīno acchi.
Then that low-caste man went to that mango tree, climbed it, and hid himself.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, rājā purohitena brāhmaṇena saddhiṁ yena so ambo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ucce āsane nisīditvā mantaṁ pariyāpuṇāti.
Just then the king and his brahmin counselor went to that same mango tree. There the king sat on a high seat while learning the Vedas.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, tassa chapakassa etadahosi—
The low-caste man thought,

‘yāva adhammiko ayaṁ rājā, yatra hi nāma ucce āsane nisīditvā mantaṁ pariyāpuṇissati.
‘How wrong-headed this king is, sitting on a high seat while learning the Vedas.

Ayañca brāhmaṇo adhammiko, yatra hi nāma nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa mantaṁ vācessati.
And the brahmin is wrong-headed too, sitting on a low seat while teaching the Vedas to one sitting on a high seat.

Ahañcamhi adhammiko, yohaṁ itthiyā kāraṇā rañño ambaṁ avaharāmi.
And I’m wrong-headed too, stealing mangoes from the king because of a woman.

Sabbamidaṁ carimaṁ katan’ti
This is all so low!’

tattheva paripati.
And he fell out of the tree right there.

‘Ubho atthaṁ na jānanti,
‘Neither understands what is good,

ubho dhammaṁ na passare;
Neither sees the Truth:

Yo cāyaṁ mantaṁ vāceti,
Not he who teaches the Vedas,

yo cādhammenadhīyati’.
Nor he who learns improperly.’

‘Sālīnaṁ odano bhutto,
‘I’ve eaten the finest rice,

sucimaṁsūpasecano;
With a curry of pure meat:

Tasmā dhamme na vattāmi,
Therefore I’m not practicing the Teaching,

dhammo ariyebhi vaṇṇito’.
The Teaching praised by the Noble Ones.’

‘Dhiratthu taṁ dhanalābhaṁ,
‘A curse it is the obtaining of wealth,

yasalābhañca brāhmaṇa;
And so is becoming popular, brahmin;

Yā vutti vinipātena,
These things come with a low rebirth,

adhammacaraṇena vā.
Or with wrong-headed behavior.

Paribbaja mahābrahme,
‘Go forth, great brahmin,

pacantaññepi pāṇino;
Other beings will do the cooking;

Mā tvaṁ adhammo ācarito,
Don’t go against the Teaching,

asmā kumbhamivābhidā’ti.
Because you’ll break like a jar.’

Tadāpi me, bhikkhave, amanāpā nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa mantaṁ vācetuṁ, kimaṅgaṁ pana etarahi na amanāpā bhavissati nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa dhammaṁ desetuṁ.
Even at that time, monks, I was displeased by someone teaching the Vedas while sitting on a low seat to someone sitting on a high seat. How, then, could it not be displeasing now?

Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…
This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Na nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa agilānassa dhammaṁ desessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.
‘“I will not give a teaching while sitting on a low seat to anyone sitting on a high seat who is not sick,” this is how you should train.’”

Na nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa agilānassa dhammo desetabbo.
One should not give a teaching while sitting on a low seat to anyone sitting on a high seat who is not sick.

Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa agilānassa dhammaṁ deseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If a monk, out of disrespect, gives a teaching while sitting on a low seat to someone sitting on a high seat who is not sick, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anāpatti—
There is no offense:

asañcicca …pe…
if it is unintentional;

ādikammikassāti.
if he is the first offender.

Navamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.
The ninth training rule is finished.