Vinaya (2): The Mahavagga
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 156,382 words
The Mahavagga (part of the Vinaya collection) includes accounts of Gautama Buddha鈥檚 and the ten principal disciples鈥� awakenings, as well as rules for ordination, rules for reciting the Patimokkha during uposatha days, and various monastic procedures....
Mahavagga, Khandaka 1, Chapter 51
At that time a believing, pious family, who devoted themselves to the (especial) service of the venerable 膧苍补苍诲补, had died of pestilence. Only two boys were left; these, when seeing Bhikkhus, ran up to them according to their old custom, but the Bhikkhus turned them away. When they were turned away by the Bhikkhus, they cried. Now the venerable 膧苍补苍诲补 thought: 'The Blessed One has forbidden us to confer the 辫补产产补箩箩腻 ordination on a boy under fifteen years of age, and these boys are under fifteen years of age. What can be done in order that these boys may not perish?' And the venerable 膧苍补苍诲补 told this thing to the. Blessed One.
鈥淎re these boys able, 膧苍补苍诲补, to scare crows?鈥�
鈥淭hey are, Lord.鈥�
In consequence of that and on this occasion the Blessed One, after having delivered a religious discourse, thus addressed the Bhikkhus: 'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to confer the 辫补产产补箩箩腻 ordination on crow-keeper boys even under fifteen years of age.'