5.
The Chapter on Perils of Offenses
1.
Commentary on the Discourse on the Schismatic
243. In the first discourse of the fifth, "Has that legal case, Ānanda" means a certain legal case among the legal cases arising from contention and so on arose in the Community of monks; the Teacher, asking about its state of being settled, spoke thus. "How could that, venerable sir" - venerable sir, "how" means for what reason will that legal case be settled, he says. "Kevalakappaṃ" means wholly, all around. "Standing for schism in the Community" means standing speaking back against what has been spoken for the purpose of controversy together with the Community. "Therein the Venerable" means when he was thus standing, the Venerable Anuruddha. "Does not think even a single announcement should be spoken" means he does not think even a single statement should be said, such as "Do not, friend, speak thus together with the Community." "Voyuñjati" means engages in, commits to pursuit. "Atthavase" means by reason of cause. "They would remove" means they would drive out, not allowing to approach the Observance and the invitation to admonish ceremonies. The remainder should be understood by the Pāḷi text itself.
2.
Commentary on the Discourse on Perils of Offences
244. In the second, "having shaved his head" means having set aside the five tufts, having made him shaven with a razor. "With a harsh sound" means with a rough sound. "With a drum" means with an execution drum. "Of one standing nearby" means of one standing on one side. "Resulting in decapitation" means deserving of the cutting off of the head. "Yatra hi nāma" means "whoever indeed." "So vatassāhaṃ" means "surely I should be such," the meaning is that I should not do such evil. "Will make amends according to the Teaching" means will make amends in conformity with the Teaching; the meaning is he will stand on the plane of a novice. "Having put on a dark cloth" means having dressed in a dark rag. "Deserving the pestle" means deserving of being struck with a pestle. "According to the Teaching" means here, having emerged from the offence and being established in the pure end, one is indeed said to act according to the Teaching. "A container of ashes" means a bundle of ashes. "Blameworthy, deserving the ashes" means deserving of being struck on the head with a blameworthy container of ashes. "According to the Teaching" means here, by confessing the offence, one is indeed said to make amends according to the Teaching. "Deserving of censure" means deserving of blame. "Regarding rules requiring acknowledgement" means regarding those that should be acknowledged. By this, all the remaining offences too are included. "These, monks, are the four fears of offence" means, monks, these are indeed called the four fears arising in dependence on offences.
3.
Commentary on the Discourse on the Benefits of Training
245. In the third, training is the benefit here - thus "with training as its benefit." Wisdom is the higher goal here - thus "with wisdom as its higher goal." Liberation is the core here - thus "with liberation as its core." Mindfulness is the authority here - thus "with mindfulness as its authority." For the purpose of these benefits and so on, reckoned as training and so on, it is lived - thus it has been said. "Fundamentals of conduct" means the highest conduct. This is a designation for morality laid down by way of duties. "In that way he in that training" means in that way that monk who is eager to train in that training rule.
"Fundamental to the holy life" is a designation for the four great moralities which are the beginning of the holy life of the path. "Altogether" means in every way. "Teachings" means the teachings of the four truths. "Are examined with wisdom" means they are well seen by path wisdom together with insight. "Are touched through liberation" means they are touched by the contact of knowledge through the liberation of the fruition of arahantship. "Mindfulness is well established internally" means mindfulness is thoroughly established in one's own internal self. "I shall support with wisdom" means I shall support with insight wisdom. "I shall examine with wisdom" - here too insight wisdom is intended. "I shall support with wisdom here and there the teaching already touched" - but here path wisdom alone is intended.
4.
Commentary on the Discourse on Sleeping Places
246. In the fourth, "ghosts" means the deceased. "Sleep lying on their backs" means they for the most part sleep only on their backs. Or else, those reborn in the sphere of ghosts are called ghosts; because of having little flesh and blood, they, entangled with a mass of bones, are unable to sleep on one side; they sleep only on their backs. "Is displeased" - because of the abundance of energy, the lion, the king of beasts, having placed the two front paws in one place and the hind paws in one place, having inserted the tail between the thighs, having observed the position of the front paws, hind paws, and tail, having placed the head on top of the two front paws, sleeps. Even having slept during the day, when awakening he awakens without being startled, but having raised his head, having observed the position of the front paws and so on, if anything has shifted from its position, "This is not suitable for your birth, nor suitable for your valour," becoming displeased, he sleeps right there and does not depart for his food resort. With reference to this it was said - "Is displeased." But when they have remained without shifting, "This is suitable for your birth and valour," full of mirth, having risen, having stretched with a lion's stretch, having shaken off the mass of his mane, having roared the lion's roar three times, he departs for his food resort. Therefore it was said - "Is pleased."
5.
Commentary on the Discourse on Those Worthy of a Pagoda
247. In the fifth, "a wheel-turning monarch" - here, why does the Blessed One allow the making of a monument for a king who has died having lived in the midst of a household, but not for a moral worldling monk? Because it would not have been marvellous. For if monuments for worldling monks were allowed, in the island of Tambapaṇṇi alone there would be no room for monuments, and likewise in other places. Therefore, thinking "they would not be marvellous," he does not allow it. A wheel-turning monarch arises only once; therefore a monument for him is marvellous. However, for a moral worldling, just as for a monk who has attained final Nibbāna, it is proper indeed to make even a great honour. The sixth and seventh are of manifest meaning only.
8.
Commentary on the First Discourse on Conventional Expression
250. In the eighth, "ignoble statements" means the talk of ignoble persons. The same method applies in the remaining ones too.
The Fear of Offences Chapter is the fifth.
The Fifth Fifty is finished.