Mahaparinibbanasuttam (DN 16) - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The Sixth Chapter for Recitation - 213
Ākaṅkhamāno Ānanda Saṅgho mamaccayena,
Desiring (to do so), Ānanda, the Community after my passing away,
khuddānukhuddakāni sikkhāpadāni samūhanatu.
can abolish the minor and subsidiary training rules. 247
* * *
Channassa Ānanda bhikkhuno mamaccayena brahmadaṇḍo dātabbo.” ti
The highest penalty, Ānanda, after my passing away, is to be handed out to the monk
Channa.”
“Katamo pana Bhante brahmadaṇḍo?” ti
“But what is the highest penalty, reverend Sir?”
“Channo Ānanda bhikkhu yaṁ iccheyya taṁ vadeyya
“The monk Channa, Ānanda, may say whatever he wishes
so bhikkhūhi neva vattabbo na ovaditabbo na anusāsitabbo.” ti
but he is not to be spoken to or advised or instructed by the monks.” 248
* * *
Atha kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
“Siyā kho pana bhikkhave ekabhikkhussa pi kaṅkhā vā vimati vā
“It may be, monks, that for one of the monks there is doubt or confusion
Buddhe vā Dhamme vā Saṅghe vā Magge vā paṭipadāya vā.
about the Buddha, or about the Teaching, or about the Community, or about the Path, or
about the practice.
Pucchatha bhikkhave mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha:
Ask, monks, do not be regretful later (thinking):
‘Sammukhībhūto no Satthā ahosi
‘The Teacher was face to face with us
na mayaṁ sikkhimhā Bhagavantaṁ sammukhā paṭipucchitun.’”-ti
and we didn’t ask the Gracious One directly about the training.’”
247 Ānanda was greatly blamed at the First Council for not asking the Buddha what the minor
and subsidiary training rules were. As there was no agreement as to the range of rules included
here the decision was made at the Council not to abolish any of them.
248 When he found out the Brahmadaṇḍa punishment had been decreed by the Buddha before he
died, Channa was humbled, and later, striving in solitude, he became a Worthy One, at which
point the penalty lapsed.