On one occasion the monks of Āḷavī were felling a tree while doing building work. A monk said to another monk, “Fell it while standing here.” He did. The tree fell on him, and he died. The first monk became anxious … “There’s no offense for one who isn’t aiming at death.” On one occasion the monks of Āḷavī were felling a tree while doing building work. A monk said to another monk, “Fell it while standing here,” aiming to kill him. He did. The tree fell on him, and he died. … The tree fell on him, but he did not die. The first monk became anxious … “There’s no offense entailing expulsion, but there’s a serious offense.”

On one occasion the monks from the group of six set fire to a forest grove. People were burned and died. The monks became anxious … “There’s no offense for one who isn’t aiming at death.” On one occasion the monks from the group of six set fire to a forest grove, aiming to cause death. People were burned and died. … People were burned, but did not die. The monks became anxious … “There’s no offense entailing expulsion, but there’s a serious offense.”

On one occasion a monk went to a place of execution and said to the executioner, “Don’t torture him. Kill him with a single blow.” “Alright, sir,” he said, and he killed him with a single blow. The monk became anxious … “You have committed an offense entailing expulsion.”