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XII, 1, 3.
ON THE COUNCIL OF VESÂLÎ.
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""There are, O Bhikkhus, .four obstructions of the sun and moon, by which when the sun and moon are affected, they give no heat and they give no light, and they are no longer glorious. And what are the four? They are clouds and fog and dusty smoke and Râhu ?, by which when the sun and the moon are affected they give neither heat nor light nor sheen. Just so, O Bhikkhus, there are four stains by which when Samanas and Brâhmans are affected they give neither heat nor light nor sheen. And what are the four ? There are some Samanas and Brâhmans who drink strong drink, and things intoxicating, abstaining not therefrom? This is the first of such stains. And further, O Bhikkhus, there are some Samanas and Brâhmans who practise sexual intercourse, and abstain not therefrom. This is the second of such stains. And further, O Bhikkhus, there are some Samanas and Brâhmans who accept silver and gold, abstaining not from the use thereof. This is the third of such stains. And lastly, O Bhikkhus, there are some Samanas and Brahmans who gain their livelihood by low arts s, abstaining not from such means of life. This is the fourth of such stains.”
Thus spoke, Sirs, the Blessed One: and when the Happy One had thus spoken, the Master further said : ““Stained by lust and malice, some Samanas and
Brâhmans,
1 That is, eclipse.
* It is curious that this matter is not, like all the following, referred to in the Silas. See Rh. D.'s Buddhist Suttas,' p. 190.
• Those, namely, which are set out in the Mahâ Sîla (Rh. D.'s Buddhist Suttas,' pp. 196-203).
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