[100] Now at that time, that bhikkhu formerly of another sect (aññatitthiyapubba) who, when being legitimately admonished by his preceptor, had refuted his preceptor's statement and gone over to that same sectarian fold, came back again and asked the bhikkhus for full admission (upasampadā). They reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect who, when being legitimately admonished by his preceptor, has refuted his preceptor's statement and gone over to that same sectarian fold, should not, on coming back, be given full admission. But whoever else, bhikkhus, formerly of another sect, desires the going forth (pabbajjā) in this Dhamma and Discipline, desires full admission — to him a probation (parivāsa) of four months should be given. And it should be given thus, bhikkhus: first, having had his hair and beard shaved off, having had him clothed in the ochre robes, having had him arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, having had him pay homage at the bhikkhus' feet, having had him squat down and raise his joined palms, he should be told, 'Say thus':
'I go to the Buddha for refuge; I go to the Dhamma for refuge; I go to the Saṅgha for refuge. For a second time I go to the Buddha for refuge; for a second time I go to the Dhamma for refuge; for a second time I go to the Saṅgha for refuge. For a third time I go to the Buddha for refuge; for a third time I go to the Dhamma for refuge; for a third time I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.'
"Then, bhikkhus, that one formerly of another sect, having approached the Saṅgha, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having paid homage at the bhikkhus' feet, having squatted down and raised his joined palms, should be made to speak thus: 'Venerable sirs, I, named so-and-so, formerly of another sect, desire full admission in this Dhamma and Discipline. I, venerable sirs, ask the Saṅgha for a probation of four months.' He should ask a second time; he should ask a third time.
"The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This person named so-and-so, formerly of another sect, desires full admission in this Dhamma and Discipline. He asks the Saṅgha for a probation of four months. If it is fitting for the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha give to so-and-so, formerly of another sect, a probation of four months. This is the motion.
'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This person named so-and-so, formerly of another sect, desires full admission in this Dhamma and Discipline. He asks the Saṅgha for a probation of four months. The Saṅgha gives to so-and-so, formerly of another sect, a probation of four months. To whichever venerable one the giving of the four months' probation to so-and-so, formerly of another sect, is agreeable, let him be silent; to whomever it is not agreeable, let him speak.
'The probation of four months has been given by the Saṅgha to so-and-so, formerly of another sect. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus do I hold it.'
"It is thus, bhikkhus, that one formerly of another sect gives satisfaction, and thus that he fails to give satisfaction. And how, bhikkhus, does one formerly of another sect fail to give satisfaction? Here, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect enters the village too early and returns too late in the day. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect fails to give satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect resorts to prostitutes, or resorts to widows, or resorts to grown unmarried women, or resorts to paṇḍakas, or resorts to bhikkhunīs. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect fails to give satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, as to the various duties, great and small, to be done for his companions in the holy life, one formerly of another sect is not skilled therein, not diligent, not endowed with the investigation proper thereto, not able to do them, not able to arrange them. In this way, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect fails to give satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect has no keen desire for the recitation, for the interrogation, for the higher virtue, the higher mind, the higher wisdom. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect fails to give satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, when dispraise is being spoken of the teacher from whose sectarian fold one formerly of another sect has come over — of his view, his conviction, his preference, his creed — he is angry, displeased, dissatisfied; but when dispraise is being spoken of the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, he is pleased, elated, satisfied. Or again, when praise is being spoken of the teacher from whose sectarian fold he has come over — of his view, his conviction, his preference, his creed — he is pleased, elated, satisfied; but when praise is being spoken of the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, he is angry, displeased, dissatisfied. This, bhikkhus, is the decisive point regarding the failure of one formerly of another sect to give satisfaction. It is thus, bhikkhus, that one formerly of another sect fails to give satisfaction. One formerly of another sect who thus fails to give satisfaction should not, on coming, be given full admission.
"And how, bhikkhus, does one formerly of another sect give satisfaction? Here, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect enters the village not too early and returns not too late in the day. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect gives satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect does not resort to prostitutes, does not resort to widows, does not resort to grown unmarried women, does not resort to paṇḍakas, does not resort to bhikkhunīs. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect gives satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, as to the various duties, great and small, to be done for his companions in the holy life, one formerly of another sect is skilled therein, diligent, endowed with the investigation proper thereto, able to do them, able to arrange them. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect gives satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect has keen desire for the recitation, for the interrogation, for the higher virtue, the higher mind, the higher wisdom. In this way too, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect gives satisfaction.
"Furthermore, bhikkhus, when dispraise is being spoken of the teacher from whose sectarian fold one formerly of another sect has come over — of his view, his conviction, his preference, his creed — he is pleased, elated, satisfied; but when dispraise is being spoken of the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, he is angry, displeased, dissatisfied. Or again, when praise is being spoken of the teacher from whose sectarian fold he has come over — of his view, his conviction, his preference, his creed — he is angry, displeased, dissatisfied; but when praise is being spoken of the Buddha, or the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha, he is pleased, elated, satisfied. This, bhikkhus, is the decisive point regarding the giving of satisfaction by one formerly of another sect. It is thus, bhikkhus, that one formerly of another sect gives satisfaction. One formerly of another sect who thus gives satisfaction should, on coming, be given full admission.
"If, bhikkhus, one formerly of another sect comes naked, a robe should be sought for on the preceptor's account. If he comes with hair uncut, the Saṅgha should be asked for consent for the shaving of the head (bhaṇḍukamma).
"Bhikkhus, those fire-worshipping matted-hair ascetics (jaṭila), when they come, may be given full admission; no probation should be given to them. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, these are proponents of kamma, proponents of the efficacy of action. If, bhikkhus, one who is a Sakyan by birth, formerly of another sect, comes, he should on coming be given full admission; no probation should be given to him. This, bhikkhus, is a special privilege that I give to my relatives."
The Discussion of Those Formerly of Another Sect.
The Seventh Recitation Section (bhāṇavāra).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.