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’s and the ten principal disciples� awakenings, as well as rules for ordination, rules for reciting the Patimokkha during uposatha days, and various monastic procedures....
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Mahavagga, Khandaka 2, Chapter 18
1. Then the Blessed One, after having dwelt at °ä´Ç»å²¹²ÔÄå±¹²¹³Ù³Ù³ó³Ü as long as he thought fit, went back again to ¸éÄåÂá²¹²µ²¹³ó²¹. At that time the people asked the Bhikkhus who went about for alms: 'What day of the half month is this, reverend Sirs?' The Bhikkus replied: 'We do not know, friends.' The people were annoyed, murmured, and became angry: 'Those Sakyaputtiya ³§²¹³¾²¹á¹‡a²õ do not even know how to count (the days of) the half month; what good things else will they know?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you learn how to count (the days of) the half month.�
2. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'Who ought to learn to count (the days of) the half month?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you learn all of you to count (the days of) the half month.�
3. At that time the people asked the Bhikkhus who went about for alms: 'How many Bhikkhus are there, reverend Sirs?' The Bhikkhus replied: 'We do not know, friends.' The people were annoyed, murmured, and became angry: 'Those Sakyaputtiya ³§²¹³¾²¹á¹‡a²õ do not even know each other; what good things else will they know?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you count the Bhikkhus.�
4. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'At what time ought we to count the Bhikkhus?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you count (the Bhikkhus) on the day of Uposatha, either by way of (counting the single) troops (of which the assembly is composed)[1], or that you take (each of you) a ticket (and count those tickets).�
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
This appears to be the meaning of gaṇamaggena gaṇetu�; Buddhaghosa has no note on this passage.