old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

Chapter Seventy-Two
Quiet Resistance
It was the day of the Buddha’s weekly Dharma talk at Bamboo Forest. A large crowd was assembled to hear him, including King
Bimbisara and Prince Ajatasattu. Venerable Ananda noticed that the number of bhikkhus attending from other centers was even greater
than at the two previous Dharma talks. Venerable Devadatta was there, sitting between Venerables Sariputta and Mahakassapa.
Once again, as soon as the Buddha was finished speaking, Venerable Devadatta stood up and bowed to the Buddha. He said, “Lord,
you teach the bhikkhus to live a simple life free of desires and to use only what is truly needed. I would like to propose five new rules which
would make our commitment to simple living greater.
“First, bhikkhus should dwell in the forests and never be allowed to sleep in villages or towns.
“Second, bhikkhus should beg only and never accept invitations to eat in the homes of lay disciples.
“Third, bhikkhus should sew their robes from discarded scraps and rags and never receive robes as offerings from lay disciples.
“Fourth, bhikkhus should sleep only beneath the trees and not in huts or buildings.
“Fifth, bhikkhus should eat only vegetarian food.
“Lord, if bhikkhus followed these five rules, they would succeed in living a simple life of few desires.”
The Buddha answered, “Devadatta, the Tathagata cannot accept your rules as mandatory. Any bhikkhu who wishes to dwell only in the
forests has permission to do that. But it is fine for others to live in huts, monasteries, villages, and cities. Any bhikkhu who wishes to only
beg for his food may refuse invitations to eat in the homes of lay disciples. But others should feel free to accept such invitations as they
provide occasions to help share the teaching. Any bhikkhu who wishes to sew his own robes from scraps and rags is free to do so. But it is
fine for others to accept robes from lay disciples, as long as bhikkhus do not possess more than three robes. Any bhikkhu who wishes to
sleep only beneath the trees is welcome to do so. But it is all right for others to sleep in huts and buildings. Any bhikkhu who wishes to eat
only vegetarian food may do so. But others may accept food offerings containing meat when they are sure the animal was not killed
expressly for them. Devadatta, under the present order, bhikkhus have many opportunities to make contact with the laity. They are able to
share the teaching with those who are just becoming acquainted with the Way of Awakening.”
Venerable Devadatta asked, “Then you do not accept these five rules?”
The Buddha answered, “No, Devadatta, the Tathagata does not accept them.”
Devadatta bowed and sat back down. His mouth was turned up in a self-satisfied smile.
That night as the Buddha rested in his hut at Bamboo Forest, he said to Ananda, “The Tathagata understands Devadatta’s intentions. I
believe there will soon be a serious split in our community.”
Not long after that, Venerable Ananda met Venerable Devadatta in Rajagaha. They stopped to talk along the side of the road.
Devadatta informed Ananda that he was setting up his own sangha and would hold his own precepts recitations, confession ceremonies,
retreat seasons, and Pavarana Days for his followers, separate from the Buddha’s sangha. Deeply saddened, Venerable Ananda informed
the Buddha of Devadatta’s decision. At the next confession ceremony that took place at Bamboo Forest, Ananda noticed that several
hundred bhikkhus who normally attended were absent. He knew they were attending the ceremony at Devadatta’s center instead.
When the ceremony was over, several bhikkhus went to the Buddha’s hut to speak with him. They said, “Lord, bhikkhus who have
sided with Devadatta are approaching many of us, exhorting us to join Venerable Devadatta’s sangha. They claim his rules are more upright
than yours. They hold up your refusal to accept Venerable Devadatta’s five rules as proof. They claim that monastic life at Bamboo Forest
is too soft, not much different from life as a layperson. They say you only talk about living simply but won’t institute the five rules that would
assure that the bhikkhus lived such a life. They say you are hypocritical. Lord, we were not swayed by their arguments. Our faith rests with
your wisdom. But many young bhikkhus who lack experience in the practice, especially those originally ordained by Devadatta, are drawn
to the more austere practice of the five rules. They are leaving the sangha to follow Venerable Devadatta. We felt we should inform you.”
The Buddha answered, “Please do not give this matter too much thought. The most important thing is your own practice of the noble and
pure life of a monk.”
Several days later Jivaka visited the Buddha on Vulture Peak to inform him that Devadatta now commanded a following of more than
five hundred bhikkhus. They were all dwelling at Devadatta’s Gayasisa headquarters. Jivaka also informed the Buddha of secret political
stirrings in the capital in which Devadatta was playing a key role. Jivaka suggested that the Buddha make a clear statement that Devadatta