Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1882
Total Pages: 2405
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 43 MB

Page 524

30
MAHAVAGGA.
V, 10, 9.
How is that, Sir? You have been causing another to deprive a living thing of life!'
That is so, friends.'
The modest among the Bhikkhus were annoyed, murmured, and became angry, saying, “How can this Bhikkhu induce a man to deprive a living thing of life? Has not the taking of life been censured, and the abstinence therefrom been praised in many a discourse by the Blessed One?'
And the Bhikkhus told this thing to the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One held because of this, and on that occasion, an assembly of the community of Bhikkhus, and asked that wicked Bhikkhu,
'Is it true, as they say, that you, O Bhikkhu, have been inducing another to deprive a living thing of life?'
It is true, Lord.' * But how can you be so foolish as to do so ? Have I not censured in many a discourse the taking of life, O foolish one, and praised the abstinence therefrom ? Such conduct, thou foolish one, will not conduce to the conversion of the unconverted !'
And having thus rebuked him, and delivered a religious discourse, he addressed the Bhikkhus, and said:
Bhikkhus! No one shall cause a living thing to be deprived of life. Whosoever does so shall be dealt with according to the Laws!. Ox-skins are not to be worn, O Bhikkhus. Whosoever does so, is guilty of a dukkata offence. And neither, O Bhikkhus, is any skin to be made use of at all. Whosoever does so, is guilty of a dukkata offence.'
1 The Laws (Dhammas) referred to are the first Pârâgika, the uth Pâkittiya, and the 61st and 62nd Pâkittiyas.
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