The monks of Kosambi had formed into two groups. One group followed the master of Vinaya and the other followed the teacher of the Dhamma. Once they were quarrelling among themselves over a minor Vinaya rule. Even the Buddha could not stop them from quarrelling; so he left them and spent the vassa, religious retreat in the monsoon season,
all alone in Rakkhita Grove near Pàrileyyaka forest. There, the elephant Pàrileyya waited upon the Buddha.
The lay disciples of Kosambi, on learning the reason for the departure of the Buddha, refused to make offerings to the
remaining monks. This made them realize their mistake and reconciliation took place among themselves. Still, the lay disciples would not treat them as respectfully as before, until they owned up their fault to the Buddha. But the Buddha was away and it was in the middle of the vassa; so the monks of Kosambi spent the vassa in misery and hardship.
At the end of the vassa, the Venerable ânanda and many monks approached the Buddha and gave the message from
Anàthapiõóika and other lay disciples imploring him to return. In due course the Buddha returned to the Jetavana
Monastery in Sàvatthi. The monks followed him there, fell down at his feet, and admitted their fault. The Buddha rebuked them for disobeying Him. He told them to remember that they must all die some day and therefore, they must stop their quarrels and must not act as if they would never die.
