At one time there was a gentleman who had been brought up in comfort, but whose entire family had died. He thought, “I’ve been brought up in comfort and I’m incapable of making money. How can I live happily without exhausting myself?” It occurred to him, “These Sakyan monastics have pleasant habits and a happy life. They eat nice food and sleep in beds sheltered from the wind. Why don’t I just get myself a bowl and robes, shave off my hair and beard, put on ocher robes, and then go to the monastery and live with the monks?” And he did just that.

When he came to the monastery, he bowed down to the monks. The monks asked him, “How many rains do you have?” “What does ‘How many rains’ mean?” “Who’s your preceptor?” “What’s a preceptor?” The monks said to Venerable Upāli, “Upāli, please examine this person.”

He then told Upāli what had happened. Upāli told the monks, who in turn told the Buddha. “A fake monk shouldn’t be given the full ordination. If it has been given, they should be expelled. Anyone who has previously left to join the monastics of another religion shouldn’t be given the full ordination. If it has been given, they should be expelled.”

49. Animals