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V, 34, I. ON THE DAILY LIFE OF THE BHIKKHUS. 153
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, when one has sneezed, to call out, "Long life to you." Whosoever does So, shall be guilty of a dukkata'.'
Now at that time people said to the Bhikkhus when they sneezed, 'Long life to your reverence!' and the Bhikkhus, fearing to offend, gave no reply. The people murmured, were annoyed, and were indignant, saying, 'How can the Sakya-puttiya Samanas omit to reply when people say, "Long life to your reverence?"
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'Laymen, O Bhikkhus, are given to lucky phrases'. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to reply, "May you live long!" to laymen who say to you, "Long life to your reverence!"
34.
1. Now at that time the Blessed One when, surrounded by a great assembly, he was preaching the Dhamma, was seated. And a certain Bhikkhu, who had eaten onions, sat down apart, thinking, 'Let not the Bhikkhus be annoyed!'
The Blessed One saw that Bhikkhu sitting apart; and on seeing him, he said to the Bhikkhus, 'Why now, O Bhikkhus, is that Bhikkhu seated apart?'
'This Bhikkhu, Lord, has eaten onions, and has
1 This story forms the Introductory Story also to the Gagga Gâtaka (No. 155 in Fausböll's edition). On the superstition here condemned, see Dr. Morris's remarks in the 'Contemporary Review' for May, 1881.
Gihî bhikkhave mangalikâ.
Vyâbâhimsu is for vyâbâdhimsu. See p. 320 of the edition of the text.
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