At that time Venerable Mahākappina was staying at Rājagaha in the deer park at Maddakucchi. On one occasion, while reflecting in private, he thought, “Should I go to the observance-day ceremony? Should I go to the legal procedures of the Sangha? Regardless, I’ve reached the highest purity.”

The Buddha read his mind. Then, just as a strong man might bend or stretch his arm, the Buddha disappeared from the Vulture Peak and reappeared in front of Mahākappina, where he sat down on the prepared seat. Mahākappina bowed and sat down,

and the Buddha said to him: “Isn’t it the case, Kappina, that you were wondering whether or not you should go to the observance day and the legal procedures of the Sangha?” “Yes, venerable sir.” “If you brahmins don’t honor and revere the observance day, then who will? Go to the observance day, brahmin, and go to the legal procedures of the Sangha.” “Yes.”

The Buddha instructed, inspired, and gladdened him with a teaching. Then, just as a strong man might bend or stretch his arm, the Buddha disappeared from Mahākappina’s presence and reappeared on the Vulture Peak.

4. The allowance for monastery zones When they knew that the Buddha had laid down a rule that a complete assembly extends as far as one monastery, the monks thought, “How far does a single monastery extend?” They told the Buddha. “I allow you to establish a monastery zone. And it should be established like this. First you should announce the zone markers: a hill, a rock, a forest grove, a tree, a path, an anthill, a river, a lake. Then a competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha: ‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. If the Sangha is ready, it should establish a monastery zone based on the announced markers, defining who belongs to the same community and who should do the observance-day ceremony together. This is the motion.

Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The Sangha establishes a monastery zone based on the announced markers, defining who belongs to the same community and who should do the observance-day ceremony together. Any monk who approves of establishing a monastery zone based on these markers, defining who belongs to the same community and who should do the observance-day ceremony together, should remain silent.