Our last visit with Raṭṭhapāla. Once again we find him speaking very directly to his father; here on the matter of begging and giving. It is unclear whether this is before or after his arahantship, but no doubt after his going forth. (There is not much before this excerpt to give context to this brief exchange between father and son other than three other stories about obtaining items by the means of begging, and the effect it has on those doing the giving. The rule that is recited has to do with the construction of huts.)
The training rule on building huts Pli Tv Vb Ss 6
- ...“The father of Raṭṭhapāla, monks, once spoke to his son with this verse:
‘All these people, Raṭṭhāpāla,
Who come to me and beg—
I don’t even know them.
So why don’t you beg from me?’
‘The beggar isn’t liked,
Nor is he who doesn’t give when asked.
That’s why I do not beg from you;
Please don’t hate me for this.’
If Raṭṭhapāla, who came from a good family, could speak like this to his own father, how much more, then, can people do so to each other.
It’s hard, monks, for lay people to acquire and protect their possessions. And still, foolish men, you kept on asking and begging for all sorts of things. This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
‘When a monk, by means of begging, builds a hut without a sponsoring owner and intended for himself, it is to be no more than twelve standard handspans long and seven wide inside. He must get monks to approve a site where no harm will be done and which has a space on all sides. If a monk, by means of begging, builds a hut on a site where harm will be done and which lacks a space on all sides, or he does not get monks to approve the site, or he exceeds the right size, he commits an offense entailing suspension.’” "
- End of profile of Raṭṭhapāla