II.4. Simpletons’ Holiday
Bālanakkhattaghuṭṭhavatthu
Kaitlyn's summary:
The religious instruction was given by the Teacher with reference to Simpleton's Holiday, Balanakkhatta. There was a festival celebrated in Savatthi called the Simpleton's Holiday where the people smeared their bodies with ashes & cow-dung for a period of 7 days. During this time, people showed no respect for kinsfold or friends or monks when they met them and stook in the doorways while insulting them with coarse talk. People who could not endure the coarse talk would pay the holiday makers a half, quarter, or a penny. These holiday makers would take the money & depart from their houses. For seven days, the Noble Disciples caused food to be prepared for the Congregation of Monks at the monastery & sent it to them but did not leave their houses themselves. On the 8th day, when the festival comes to an end, the Noble Disciples invited the Congregation of Monks to be their guests, escorted them into the city, & gave abundant offerings. Respectfully, each bowed themselves to the Teacher and said that they did not allow him to enter the city. The Teacher listened and said that after this manner they conducted, they are intelligent and preserve heedfulness which means at last they would attain the attainment of the Great Nibbana.
