Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 16Not Noisy (2nd)

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– CLARIFYING THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE RULES OF TRAINING FOR THE ASSEMBLY:

16. "A rule of training: one should speak softly when seated in the house of a white-robed layperson."

When seated in a house, one must not call out to one another loudly. If one wishes to call someone, one should snap one's fingers; if that person does not hear, one should ask the person seated nearby to relay the message. When receiving a meal at a monastery or seated before preceptors, ācāryas, or senior monks, one must not call out to one another in a loud voice.

If one wishes to speak with someone, one should speak to the person seated nearby, and the message is passed gradually to the second person, the third, and so on, until it reaches the intended person. If one gives free rein to one's faculties and calls out loudly while seated in a house, this constitutes disregard for a rule of training. Excepting the case where one's mind is disturbed by madness, there is no offense.

Therefore it is said:

"A rule of training: one should speak softly when seated in the house of a white-robed layperson."

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī, as told in detail above. At that time the group of six monks, while seated in the house of a white-robed layperson, laughed and jested noisily with one another, and people of the world criticized them:

—Why do the ascetics, sons of the Sakyan, when seated in the house of a white-robed layperson, laugh and jest freely like princes, ministers, or women of ill repute?

And they further said:

—Venerable Sirs, is there something here worth laughing at? Why do you bare your gums like that — are you trying to sell your teeth? These are persons of depraved conduct; they have no spiritual virtue whatsoever!

The monks then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately ordered the group of six monks to be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this matter truly occur?

—It truly happened thus, Blessed One.

—You are those who have gone forth; why, while living within the discipline of the noble ones, do you laugh so loudly as to bare your gums? From this day forward, you must not laugh in such a manner when seated in the house of a white-robed layperson.

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the monks dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down this precept for the monks — which, even if one has heard it before, one must hear again:

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHĀDRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Editorial verification: Thích Đỗng Minh