• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
  • The chapter on training Sekhiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on shoes Pādukavagga

75. The training rule on defecating in water 75. Udakeuccārasikkhāpada

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the monks from the group of six were defecating, urinating, and spitting in water. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karonti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics defecate, urinate, and spit in water? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissanti, seyyathāpi gihī kāmabhogino”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the monks from the group of six do this?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karothā”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi karissatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’” “Na udake uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards, being afraid of wrongdoing, sick monks did not defecate, urinate, or spit in water. Tena kho pana samayena gilānā bhikkhū udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ kukkuccāyanti. They told the Buddha. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow a sick monk to defecate, urinate, or spit in water. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā udake uccārampi passāvampi kheḷampi kātuṁ.

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

Final ruling

‘“When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,” this is how you should train.’” “Na udake agilāno uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

If one is not sick, one should not defecate, urinate, or spit in water. Na udake agilānena uccāro vā passāvo vā kheḷo vā kātabbo. If, out of disrespect, a monk who is not sick defecates, urinates, or spits in water, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca udake agilāno uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā kheḷaṁ vā karoti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is unintentional; asañcicca, if he is not mindful; assatiyā, if he does not know; ajānantassa, if he is sick; gilānassa, if he does it on dry ground, but it then spreads to water; thale kato udakaṁ ottharati, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is deranged; khittacittassa, if he is overwhelmed by pain; vedanāṭṭassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The fifteenth training rule is finished. Pannarasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The seventh subchapter on shoes is finished. Pādukavaggo sattamo.

“Venerables, the rules to be trained in have been recited. Uddiṭṭhā kho, āyasmanto, sekhiyā dhammā. In regard to this I ask you, Tatthāyasmante pucchāmi—‘Are you pure in this?’ “kaccittha parisuddhā”? A second time I ask, Dutiyampi pucchāmi—‘Are you pure in this?’ “kaccittha parisuddhā”? A third time I ask, Tatiyampi pucchāmi—‘Are you pure in this?’ “kaccittha parisuddhā”? You are pure in this and therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.” Parisuddhetthāyasmanto, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmīti.

The rules to be trained in are finished. Sekhiyā niṭṭhitā.

The chapter on training is finished. Sekhiyakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.