Date: 06/28/2025 06/29/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Pāvā Incident during the Recitation of the Pātimokkha
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Blessed One was residing beside the Ganges Pond in the city of Campā.
At that time, a certain monk in the local Saṅgha had committed an offense. Upon being discovered by his fellow monks, he was duly admonished. Yet this monk, when confronted, responded not with remorse or confession, but with evasive excuses and shifting speech. Furthermore, he grew defiant and glared angrily at those who had come to correct him.
When the Blessed One came to know of this, he addressed the monks:
“Monks, expel this one from your midst. Why endure harm from one who behaves as an outsider to the path?
Monks, when such a one’s true nature is yet unknown, people may regard him as a noble monk.
But once it is known that he is a corrupt element within the Saṅgha, he should be removed, lest he defile the truly virtuous among you.”
Now, it was on the full-moon day, at the same location by the Ganges Pond in Campā, that the monks had assembled as per the custom to observe **Uposatha**, the fortnightly gathering for the recitation of the Pātimokkha precepts. They had respectfully taken their seats around the Blessed One, awaiting his instruction.
But something unusual occurred. The evening wore on into the first watch of the night, yet the Blessed One remained silent. No sign was given that he would begin the recitation.
Venerable Ānanda arose, approached the Blessed One, saluted him with joined palms, and respectfully requested:
“World-Honored One, the first watch of the night has passed. The Saṅgha has been seated for a long time. May the Blessed One now begin the recitation of the Pātimokkha.”
The Blessed One remained silent.
Venerable Ānanda, receiving no reply, quietly returned to his seat.
Time continued to pass. The second watch of the night neared its end. Venerable Ānanda once again stood, approached the Blessed One, and requested:
“World-Honored One, the middle of the night has nearly passed. Please begin the Pātimokkha recitation.”
Still, the Blessed One remained silent.
Venerable Ānanda returned to his seat a second time. All present continued to sit silently in patience.
Finally, as the third watch drew to a close and dawn was near, Venerable Ānanda rose a third time and said:
“World-Honored One, the night is almost over. Please, now begin the Pātimokkha.”
Only then did the Blessed One speak:
“Ānanda, within this assembly, there is a monk who has committed a transgression, yet he has not made confession.”
At that moment, Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana, using his power of mind-reading, surveyed the Saṅgha and discerned the monk in question. He approached and said to him:
“Friend, arise! Go before the Blessed One. You may no longer dwell in the company of monks.”
But the monk remained silent and unmoving.
A second time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana urged him. Still, he remained.
A third time, he was called to rise. Yet still he resisted.
At last, Mahāmaudgalyāyana physically lifted the monk, removed him from the hall, barred the door, and returned to the Blessed One:
“World-Honored One, the monk who had broken the precepts has now been expelled. The assembly is pure. May the Blessed One now recite the Pātimokkha.”
The Blessed One approved of Mahāmaudgalyāyana’s action and addressed the Saṅgha:
“Monks, from this day onward, you shall perform the Uposatha yourselves and recite the Pātimokkha among your own assembly.
The Tathāgata shall no longer attend these gatherings. For when a gathering is mixed with those who are impure, it is neither the right time nor the right occasion for the Tathāgata to teach the Pātimokkha.”
