27b: The 9th Rains Retreat (Schism) – 956
Dīghāvu is so wise that he could explain to us at length, what his father had
uttered in abridged form!” Thus the King of Kāsi spoke highly of Prince
Dīghāvu and formally returned the possessions of his father, the late King
Dīghīti of Kosala, comprising the army, elephants, horses, chariots, territories,
treasuries and granaries, and above all, he gave his daughter, who had come of
age, to Prince Dīghāvu.”
Buddha’s Exhortation
“Monastics, it will be seen that, even those kings in arms could come to friendly
terms through forbearance and kindly disposition! Monastics, when those of you
who have become members of the Saṅgha within the domain of my instructions
that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end, cannot
forgive and act in a friendly way, how can you expect to uphold the dignity and
maintain the nobility and purity of my teaching?”
Then the Buddha repeated, for the third time, the exhortation he had given
before: “Monastics, it is not at all right and proper for you to be quarrelling,
fighting and opposing one another. Enough! No disputes, no quarrelling, no
contentions.” At this last exhortation also, the monastic who belonged to the
suspended group addressed the Buddha as before: “Most exalted Buddha, let the
lord of the Dhamma wait, let the Fortunate One remain unconcerned, intent on
abiding in peace for the present. We will be responsible for these disputes,
quarrels and strife.” The Buddha then considered: “These useless people, without
hope of achieving the paths and fruitions, are really incorrigible. It’s not easy to
bring them to their senses,” and he departed from that place.
The Buddha entered Kosambī early in the morning for alms food and after his
meal returned to the monastery. He then had his lodging kept in order and
carrying his robe and the alms bowl he stood in the midst of the monastics and
gave the following exhortations in ten verses (
Kosambiya-jātaka
, Ja 428):
Puthu-saddo samajano,
[681]
na bālo koci maññatha,
Saṅghasmiṁ bhijjamānasmiṁ, nāññaṁ bhiyyo amaññaruṁ.
Those monastics, with foul mouths and rude manners, have boisterous,
cheerless voices; they are the same type of persons as those with impure
hearts; there is no one amongst them who knows his own folly or
foolishness. Above all, none of these monastics has realized that