BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Saṅghādisesa Chapter 5"'I know you're the ones here for the regular meal. But yesterday the householderordered me, "Hey. Those who are coming for a meal tomorrow: Prepare a seat forthem in the gatehouse and serve them unhusked rice porridge with pickle brine." Soeat, honored sirs.'"Then the followers of Mettiya and Bhummaja said to one another, 'Yesterday thehouseholder with fine food went to the monastery and met with Dabba Mallaputta.No doubt Dabba Mallaputta turned him against us.' Because of their disappointment,they didn't eat as much as they had hoped."Then... they returned to the monastery and, putting away their robes and bowls,went outside the monastery gatehouse and sat with their outer robes holding uptheir knees (§) — silent, abashed, their shoulders drooping, their heads down,brooding, at a loss for words."Then Mettiyā Bhikkhunī approached them... and said to them, 'I salute you,masters.' But when she had said this, they didn't respond. A second time... A thirdtime she said, 'I salute you, masters.' And a third time they didn't respond."'Have I offended you, masters? Why don't you respond to me?'"'Because you, sister, look on impassively while Dabba Mallaputta treats us like dirt.'"'What can I do?'"'If you want, you could get the Blessed One to expel Dabba Mallaputta right thisvery day.'"'What can I do? How could I do that?'"'Come, sister. Go to the Blessed One and say this: "It is unfitting, venerable sir,and improper. The quarter without dread, without harm, without danger, is (now) thequarter with dread, with harm, with danger. From where there was a calm, there is(now) a storm-wind. The water, as it were, is ablaze. I have been raped by MasterDabba Mallaputta."'"'As you say, masters.' (And she went to carry out their bidding.)"This is just the heart of the origin story to this rule, which is one of the longest andmost controversial accounts in the Vinaya. After Mettiyā Bhikkhunī made her charge,the Buddha convened a meeting of the Saṅgha to question Ven. Dabba Mallaputta.The latter, who had attained arahantship at the age of seven, responded truthfullythat he could not call to mind ever having indulged in sexual intercourse even in adream, much less when awake. The Buddha then told the Saṅgha to expel MettiyāBhikkhunī and to interrogate (§) her instigators, after which he returned to hisquarters. When the bhikkhus had expelled her, the followers of Mettiya andBhummaja told them, "Friends, don't expel Mettiyā Bhikkhunī. She hasn't done113