(Mv.III.7.1) [212] Now on that occasion a certain monk’s mother fell sick. She sent a messenger to her son, (saying,) “‘Because I am sick, may my son come. I want my son to come.”

Then the thought occurred to the monk, “It has been laid down by the Blessed One concerning going on seven-day business for seven (classes of people) when sent for, but not when not sent for, and going on seven-day business for five (classes of people) even if not sent for, all the more if sent for.

“But my mother is sick and she is not a lay follower. What should I do?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

(Mv.III.7.2) “Monks, I allow you to go for seven-day business for seven (classes of people), even when not sent for, all the more if sent for: a monk, a bhikkhunī, a female trainee, a novice, a female novice, mother, father. I allow you to go for seven-day business, even when not sent for, for these seven (classes of people), all the more if sent for. The return should be made in seven days.

(Mv.III.7.3) “Monks, there is the case where a monk’s mother falls sick.

“If she should send a messenger to her son, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may my son come. I want my son to come,’ one may go for seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after her health) or will tend to her.’ The return should be made in seven days.

(Mv.III.7.4) “Monks, there is the case where a monk’s father falls sick.

“If he should send a messenger to his son, (saying,) ‘Because I am sick, may my son come. I want my son to come,’ one may go for seven-day business even if not sent for, all the more if sent for, thinking, ‘I will look for a meal for the sick one or a meal for the one attending the sick or medicine for the sick; I will ask (after his health) or will tend to him.’ The return should be made in seven days.