People said, “They say Venerable Pilindavaccha has performed a superhuman feat, a wonder of supernormal power, for the king and his court!” Being delighted and gaining confidence in Pilindavaccha, they brought him the five tonics: ghee, butter, oil, honey, and syrup. Ordinarily, too, Pilindavaccha was getting the five tonics. Since he was getting so much, he gave it away to his followers, who ended up with an abundance of tonics. After filling up basins and waterpots and setting these aside, they filled their water filters and bags and hung these in the windows. But the tonics were dripping, and the dwellings became infested with rats. When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them, “These Sakyan monastics are hoarding things indoors, just like King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha.” The monks heard the complaints of those people and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can these monks choose to live with such abundance?” After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that there are monks who live like this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can those foolish men live like this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘After being received, the tonics allowable for sick monks—that is, ghee, butter, oil, honey, and syrup—should be used from storage for at most seven days.

If one uses them longer than that, one commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Definitions The tonics allowable for sick monks: Ghee: ghee from cows, ghee from goats, ghee from buffaloes, or ghee from whatever animal whose meat is allowable. Butter: butter from the same animals. Oil: sesame oil, mustard oil, honey-tree oil, castor oil, oil from fat. Honey: honey from bees. Syrup: from sugarcane. After being received, they should be used from storage for at most seven days: they are to be used for seven days at a maximum.