Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 16
Then the venerable Kassapa questioned venerable Ananda as to the origin of Brahmajala and he
questioned Ananda as to the individual.
Then the venerable Kassapa questioned venerable Ananda as to the origin of Sumannapala and he
questioned Ananda as to the individual. In this same way, Mahakassapa questioned Ananda about the
five nikayas.
Confusion for Ananda’s Comment “Lesser and Minor Rules Can be Abolished”:
Then the venerable Ananda spoke thus to the elders:
The lord spoke thus to me at the time of his attaining Nibbana. “If the order, Ananda,, after my death
is willing, lesser and minor rules of training may be abolished”
“But did you reverend Ananda, ask the Lord, saying: but which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of
training?”
“Honored sirs, I did not ask the Lord saying “which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of training”
Then some elders spoke thus: “Except the rules for the four offenses involving defeat, rest are lesser
and minor rules of training”
Some elders said “Except the rules for the four offenses involving defeat, plus thirteen offenses
entailing a formal meeting of the order, the rest are lesser and minor rules of training”
Then various elders gave their interpretation of lesser and minor rules of training.
Then Mahakassapa said thus: “Let the order listen to me. If we were to abolish lesser and minor rules
of training, there would be some who say “While the teacher was among them, they trained themselves
in the rules of training. Now the teacher has attained Nibbana, they do not train themselves in the rules
of training. If it seems right to the order, order should not lay down what has not laid down, nor
should it abolish what has been laid down. It should proceed in conformity with and according to the
rules of training that have been laid down. If this is acceptable to the order, they should be silent. If it
is not pleasing, order should speak”.
“The order is silent, therefore it is pleasing to the order”.
Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Not Asking Lord of Lesser and Minor Rules:
Then the monks who were elders spoke thus to venerable Ananda:
“It is an offense of you, in that you did not ask the Lord saying, “But, which Lord are the lesser and
minor rules of training. Confess that offense of wrongdoing”
Then Ananda spoke thus: “Honored sirs, Out of un-mindfulness, I did not ask the Lord saying, But,
which Lord are the lesser and minor rules of training. I do not see that as an offense of wrongdoing,
yet out of reverend for the venerable ones, I confess that as an offense of wrongdoing”.
Elders Tell Ananda to Accept Responsibility for Stepping on Lord’s Cloths: