Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. At that time a family that was supporting Venerable Upananda the Sakyan had invited him to a meal, and they had invited other monks too. But since Upananda was visiting other families before that meal, the other monks said to that family, “Please, give the meal.”

“Please wait, Venerables, until Venerable Upananda arrives.”

A second time … A third time those monks said, “Please give the meal before the time for eating comes to an end.”

“But, Venerables, we made the meal because of Venerable Upananda. Please wait until he arrives.”

Then, after visiting those families, Upananda arrived late, and those monks did not eat as much as they had intended. The monks of few desires … complained and criticized Upananda, “How can Venerable Upananda visit families first when invited to a meal?” … “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha rebuked him, “… Foolish man, how can you visit families first when invited to a meal? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

First preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a family that was supporting Upananda sent non-staple food to the Order. They gave instructions that the food should be shown to Upananda and then given to the Order.

Just then Upananda had entered the village for alms. When those people arrived at the monastery, they asked for Upananda, and they were told where he was. They said, “Venerables, after showing it to Venerable Upananda, this non-staple food is to be given to the Order.” The monks told the Master, who then gave a teaching and addressed the monks, “Well then, monks, receive it and put it aside until Upananda returns.”

Knowing that the Master had prohibited visiting families before the meal, Upananda visited them after the meal instead. As a consequence he returned late to the monastery, and the food had to be returned to the donors.

The monks of few desires … complained and criticized Upananda, “How can Venerable Upananda visit families after the meal?” … “Is it true, Upananda, that you do this?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha rebuked him, “… Foolish man, how can you visit families after the meal? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.

Third sub-story

Soon afterwards it was the robe-giving season. But being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not visit families. As a result they only obtained a small amount of robe-cloth. They told the Master. … “Monks, I allow you to visit families during the robe-giving season. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Third preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reason is this: it is the robe-giving season.’”

In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.

Fourth sub-story

Soon afterwards the monks were making a robe, and they needed a needle, thread, and scissors. But being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not visit families. They told the Master. … “Monks, I allow you to visit families if you are making a robe. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Fourth preliminary ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: it is the robe-giving season, he is making a robe.’”

In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.

Fifth sub-story

Soon afterwards there were sick monks who needed medicines. But being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not visit families. They told the Master. … “Monks, I allow you to visit families after informing an available monk. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

‘If a monk who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards without informing an available monk, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: it is the robe-giving season, he is making a robe.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a complete Order through a procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is unchallengeable and fit to stand— this sort of monk is meant in this case.

Invited: invited to eat any of the five staple foods.

To a meal: the invitation includes a meal.

An available monk: he is able to inform and then enter.

No available monk: he is not able to inform and then enter.

Beforehand: he has not yet eaten what he has been invited to eat.

Afterwards: even if he has just eaten what fits on the tip of a blade of grass from what he has been invited to eat.

A family: there are four kinds of families: aristocratic families, brahmin families, merchant families, worker families.

Visits families: if he enters the vicinity of someone else’s house, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he crosses the threshold with the first foot, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he crosses the threshold with the second foot, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Unless there is an appropriate reason: except at an appropriate time.

It is the robe-giving season: That is, the last month of the rainy season plus the four months of the cold season.for one who has not done the robe-making ceremony, it is the last month of the rainy season. For one who has done the robe-making ceremony, it is the five-month period.

He is making a robe: when he is making a robe.

Permutations

If he has been invited, and he perceives that he has, and he visits families beforehand or afterwards without informing an available monk, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he has been invited, but he is unsure if he has, and he visits families beforehand or afterwards without informing an available monk, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he has been invited, but he does not perceives that he has, and he visits families beforehand or afterwards without informing an available monk, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he has not been invited, but he perceives that he has, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he has not been invited, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he has not been invited, and he does not perceive that he has, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if there is an appropriate reason; if he enters after informing an available monk; if, when there is no available monk, he enters without informing; if the road passes someone else’s house; if the road passes the vicinity of someone else’s house; if he is going between monasteries; if he is going to the dwelling place of nuns; if he is going to the dwelling place of the ascetics of another sect; if he is returning to the monastery; if he is going to a house for a meal; if there are dangers; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The sixth rule, the training rule on visiting, is finished.