At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, a certain group of travelers was about to go south from Rājagaha. A monk said to those people, “Let me travel with you.” “But we’re smuggling goods.” “That’s your business.” The customs officers heard about that group of travelers. They then blocked the road, caught the group, confiscated the goods, and asked that monk, “Venerable, why are you knowingly traveling with a group of thieves?” And they detained him. After being released, that monk went to Sāvatthī, where he told the monks what had happened. The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How could a monk knowingly travel by arrangement with a group of thieves?” … “Is it true, monk, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling