11.
The Discourse on Suspicion
92.
On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on a journey among the Kosalans together with a large Community of monks, and arrived at a market town of the Kosalans named Saṅkavā.
There the Blessed One stayed at Saṅkavā.
Now at that time a monk named Kassapagotta was a resident at Saṅkavā.
There the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules.
Then for the monk Kassapagotta, while the Blessed One was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules, there was indeed impatience, there was displeasure -
"This ascetic is too scrupulous."
Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Saṅkavā as long as he liked, set out on a journey towards Rājagaha.
Wandering on a journey gradually, he arrived at Rājagaha.
There the Blessed One stayed at Rājagaha.
Then for the monk Kassapagotta, not long after the Blessed One had departed, there was indeed remorse, there was regret - "It is a loss for me indeed, it is not a gain for me indeed; it is ill-gained for me indeed, it is not well-gained for me indeed; that for me, while the Blessed One was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules, there was indeed impatience, there was displeasure - 'This ascetic is too scrupulous.' What if I were to approach the Blessed One; having approached, I should confess the transgression as a transgression in the presence of the Blessed One." Then the monk Kassapagotta, having set in order his lodging, taking his bowl and robe, set out towards Rājagaha. Gradually he arrived at Rājagaha, at the Vulture's Peak mountain, and approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the monk Kassapagotta said this to the Blessed One -
"On one occasion, venerable sir, the Blessed One was staying at Saṅkavā, a market town of the Kosalans named Saṅkavā. There, venerable sir, the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules. For me, while the Blessed One was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules, there was indeed impatience, there was displeasure - 'This ascetic is too scrupulous.' Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Saṅkavā as long as he liked, set out on a journey towards Rājagaha. For me, venerable sir, not long after the Blessed One had departed, there was indeed remorse, there was regret - It is a loss for me indeed, it is not a gain for me indeed; it is ill-gained for me indeed, it is not well-gained for me indeed; that for me, while the Blessed One was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules, there was indeed impatience, there was displeasure - 'This ascetic is too scrupulous.' What if I were to approach the Blessed One; having approached, I should confess the transgression as a transgression in the presence of the Blessed One. A transgression overcame me, venerable sir, as one who was foolish, as one who was confused, as one who was unwholesome, that for me, while the Blessed One was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules, there was indeed impatience, there was displeasure - 'This ascetic is too scrupulous.' May the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept my transgression as a transgression for the sake of restraint in the future."
"Truly, Kassapa, a transgression overcame you as one who was foolish, as one who was confused, as one who was unwholesome, in that when I was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with the training rules, there was indeed impatience in you, there was displeasure - 'This ascetic is too scrupulous.' But since you, Kassapa, having seen the transgression as a transgression, make amends according to the Teaching, we accept it from you. For this is growth, Kassapa, in the Noble One's discipline: whoever, having seen a transgression as a transgression, makes amends according to the Teaching, and commits to restraint in the future.
"If even an elder monk, Kassapa, is not eager to train, does not speak in praise of undertaking the training, does not instigate in the training those other monks who are not eager to train, and does not speak praise of those other monks who are eager to train - factual, true, at the right time - of such an elder monk, Kassapa, I do not speak praise. What is the reason for this? Thinking 'The Teacher speaks praise of him,' other monks would associate with him; those who would associate with him would follow the example of what they have seen in him; those who would follow the example of what they have seen in him - for them that would be for their harm and suffering for a long time. Therefore, Kassapa, I do not speak praise of such an elder monk.
"If even a middle monk, Kassapa, is etc. if even a new monk, Kassapa, is not eager to train, does not speak in praise of undertaking the training, does not instigate in the training those other monks who are not eager to train, and does not speak praise of those other monks who are eager to train - factual, true, at the right time - of such a new monk, Kassapa, I do not speak praise. What is the reason for this? Thinking 'The Teacher speaks praise of him,' other monks would associate with him; those who would associate with him would follow the example of what they have seen in him; those who would follow the example of what they have seen in him - for them that would be for their harm and suffering for a long time. Therefore, Kassapa, I do not speak praise of such a new monk.
"If even an elder monk, Kassapa, is eager to train, speaks in praise of undertaking the training, instigates in the training those other monks who are not eager to train, and speaks praise of those other monks who are eager to train - factual, true, at the right time - of such an elder monk, Kassapa, I speak praise. What is the reason for this? Thinking 'The Teacher speaks praise of him,' other monks would associate with him; those who would associate with him would follow the example of what they have seen in him; those who would follow the example of what they have seen in him - for them that would be for their welfare and happiness for a long time. Therefore, Kassapa, I speak praise of such an elder monk.
"If even a middle monk, Kassapa, is eager to train etc. if even a new monk, Kassapa, is eager to train, speaks in praise of undertaking the training, instigates in the training those other monks who are not eager to train, and speaks praise of those other monks who are eager to train - factual, true, at the right time - of such a new monk, Kassapa, I speak praise. What is the reason for this? Thinking 'The Teacher speaks praise of him,' other monks would associate with him; those who would associate with him would follow the example of what they have seen in him; those who would follow the example of what they have seen in him - for them that would be for their welfare and happiness for a long time. Therefore, Kassapa, I speak praise of such a new monk." The eleventh.