Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

18 VimuttimaggaWhat is "misbehaviour 1 ? "Here a bhikkhu gives someone bamboostaves, or flowers, leaves and fruits, or tooth-sticks and bath-powder; or hecourts favour, speaking well or ill of others; or he is given to fawning; or heruns hither and thither and to far off places contrary to the rule, in order toinvite folk to an assembly; or does such other actions censured by the Buddhaand thus subsists by wrong livelihood—this is called 'misbehaviour'. 1And again, there are two kinds of 'misbehaviour': bodily and verbalmisbehaviour. What is 'bodily misbehaviour' ? A certain bhikkhu goes tothe midst of the assembly of the Order with pride in his heart, brushing pastthe venerable ones; he recklessly pushes them, or goes forward, or haughtilystands, or sits on a high seat before the venerable ones (sit), or keeps backthe venerable ones, or sits pompously, or disdainful of the venerable onesdisposes himself on a seat; or patting them (the venerable ones) on the shoulder,he speaks lightly to them. While the venerable ones go barefooted, he wearssandals. When aged and venerable ones walk on the path below, he walkson the high and broad road above. In various ways he slights and troubles(others). He withholds what is good from the younger bhikkhus. He giveswhat is mean to the venerable ones. Without permission, he burns fuel inthe bath-room and opens and shuts the door. Or when he goes to the waterside,he enters it (the water) before them (the venerable ones) and twists andturns his body, or pats, in the fashion of rustics. When he goes to another'shouse he enters abruptly, either by the back or by the front door; sits downand gets up in a disorderly manner; or he enters screened places and jokeswith women and young girls and strokes their necks. Such misconduct iscalled 'misbehaviour' of body. 2What is 'verbal misbehaviour'? A certain bhikkhu has no reverence in hismind. Without finding out the wishes of the venerable ones he preaches onthe Law or he preaches on the Pdtimokkha; or he speaks to others pattingthem on the shoulder; or he enters another's house and asks of a womanbluntly thus: "Madam so and so of such and such a family, is there or isthere not anything to eat? If there is, let me have it. I want to get food".Such words are 'verbal misbehaviour'. 3What is 'good behaviour'? It is the opposite of 'misbehaviour'. Acertain bhikkhu has reverence in his mind, is obedient, is possessed of modestyand decorum and is thoroughly skilled in the postures. He has enoughalways, guards his senses and is abstemious as regards food and drink. He1. Kdyika andcdra. Cp. Vbh. 246: Idh"ekacco veluddnena vd pattaddnena vd pupphaddnenavd phaladdnena vd sindnaddnena vd dantakatthaddnena vd cdiukamyatdya vd muggasupatdyavd pdribhatthatdya vd janghapesanikena vd ahnatarannatarena buddhapatikutthenamicchd djlvena jlvitam kappeti: ay am vuccati andedro.Cp. also Th. 937, 938: Mattikarh telam cimnafi ca udakdsanabhojanamgihinam upandmenti dkankhantd bahuttaramdanta-ponarii kapitthan ca pupphakhddaniydni capindapdte ca sampanne ambe dmalakdni ca,2. Kdyika andedra. Cp. Nd 1 228-9.3. Vdcasika andedra, Cp. Nd 1 230.