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176
MAHÂVAGGA.
I, 31, 5.
enough, Lord, to support our life, and we have made our journey, Lord, with not too great fatigue.'
The Tathâgatas sometimes ask about what they know; sometimes they do not ask about what they know. They understand the right time when to ask, and they understand the right time when not to ask. The Tathâgatas put questions full of sense, not void of sense; to what is void of sense the bridge is pulled down for the Tathagatas. For two purposes the blessed Buddhas put questions to the Bhikkhus, when they intend to preach the doctrine or when they intend to institute a rule of conduct to their disciples.
5. And the Blessed One said to the venerable Upananda Vangantaputta: 'How many years have you completed, O Bhikkhu, since your upasampadâ ?' 'Two years, Lord.'
And how many years has this Bhikkhu completed ?'
One year, Lord.' In what relation does this Bhikkhu stand to you?' He is my saddhivihârika, Lord.'
Then the blessed Buddha rebuked him: This is improper, O foolish one, unbecoming, unsuitable, unworthy of a Samana, unallowable, and to be avoided. How can you, O foolish one, who ought to receive exhortation and instruction from others, think yourself fit for administering exhortation and instruction to another Bhikkhu? Too quickly, O foolish one, have you abandoned yourself to the ambition of collecting followers. This will not do (&c., as in chap. 30. 3). Let no one, O Bhikkhus, confer the upasampadà ordination who has not
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