Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Nissaggiya Pācittiya 26: The Training Rule on Asking for Thread.
- Translated from the Pali by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Origin story
1 At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Rājagaha in the squirrel sanctuary in the Bamboo Grove. At that time some monks belonging to the group of six asked for much thread during the robe making season. And even when their robes had been sewn, there was much thread left over. And those monks thought: “Well, let’s ask for more thread and get weavers to weave us robes." But even when the robes had been woven, there was much thread left over. For a second time those monks asked for more thread and got weavers to weave them robes. Once again, when the robes had been woven, there was much thread left over. For a third time those monks asked for more thread and got weavers to weave them robes. People grumbled and complained: “How can the Sakyan ascetics ask for thread and then get weavers to weave them robes?"
2 Monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticised those monks: “How can those monks belonging to the group of six ask for thread and then get weavers to weave them robes?"
3 After criticising those monks in many ways, they informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that you ask for thread and then get weavers to weave you robes?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … Foolish men, how can you ask for thread and then get weavers to weave you robes? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
4 “If a monk asks for thread himself, and then gets weavers to weave him robe-cloth, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession."
Definitions
5 A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who is ordained by a complete Sangha through a procedure of one motion and three announcements, which is unchallengeable and fit to stand; this sort of monk is meant in this case.
6 Himself: he himself has asked.
7 Thread: there are six kinds of thread: linen, cotton, silk, wool, jute, and hemp.
8
Weavers: for every action to get it woven by weavers, he commits an offence of bad conduct. When he gets the robe, it becomes subject to relinquishment.
The robe-cloth is to be relinquished to a Sangha, a group, or an individual. “And, monks, it is to be relinquished in this way. … To be expanded as in Nissaggiya Pācittiya 1, verses 13 to 17 with appropriate substitutions. … ‘Bhante, this robe-cloth which I got woven by weavers after asking for the thread myself is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ … the Sangha should give … the Venerables should give … “I give this robe-cloth back to the Venerable."
Permutations
9 If he got it woven, and he perceives that he did, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he got it woven, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he got it woven, but he perceives that he did not, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.
10If he did not get it woven, but he perceives that he did, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he did not get it woven, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he did not get it woven, and he perceives that he did not, there is no offence.
Non-offences
11There is no offence: if he sews a robe; if it is a bandage; if it is a waistband; if it is a shoulder-strap; if it is a bowl-bag; if it is a water-strainer; if it is from relatives; if it is from those who have given an invitation; if it for the benefit of someone else; if it is by means of one’s own property; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
12The sixth rule, the training rule on asking for thread, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū cīvarakārasamaye bahuṃ suttaṃ viññāpesuṃ. katepi cīvare bahuṃ suttaṃ avasiṭṭhaṃ hoti. atha kho chabbaggiyānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ etadahosi— "handa mayaṃ, āvuso, aññampi suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpemā"ti. atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aññampi suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpesuṃ. vītepi cīvare bahuṃ suttaṃ avasiṭṭhaṃ hoti. dutiyampi kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aññampi suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpesuṃ. vītepi cīvare bahuṃ suttaṃ avasiṭṭhaṃ hoti. tatiyampi kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aññampi suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpesuṃ. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā sāmaṃ suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpessantī"ti.
2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū sāmaṃ suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpessantī"ti.
3 atha kho te bhikkhū chabbaggiye bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … "saccaṃ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, sāmaṃ suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpethā"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, sāmaṃ suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpessatha. netaṃ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
4 "yo pana bhikkhu sāmaṃ suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi cīvaraṃ vāyāpeyya, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyan"ti. (26:45)
5 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
7 suttaṃ nāma cha suttāni— khomaṃ kappāsikaṃ koseyyaṃ kambalaṃ sāṇaṃ bhangaṃ.
8 tantavāyehīti pesakārehi vāyāpeti, payoge payoge dukkaṭaṃ. paṭilābhena nissaggiyaṃ hoti. nissajjitabbaṃ sanghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṃ … pe … "idaṃ me, bhante, cīvaraṃ sāmaṃ suttaṃ viññāpetvā tantavāyehi vāyāpitaṃ nissaggiyaṃ. imāhaṃ sanghassa nissajjāmī"ti … pe … dadeyyāti … pe … dadeyyunti … pe … āyasmato dammīti.
9 vāyāpite vāyāpitasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. vāyāpite vematiko, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ. vāyāpite avāyāpitasaññī, nissaggiyaṃ pācittiyaṃ.
10 avāyāpite vāyāpitasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. avāyāpite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. avāyāpite avāyāpitasaññī, anāpatti.
11 anāpatti— cīvaraṃ sibbetuṃ, āyoge, kāyabandhane, aṃsabaddhake, pattatthavikāya, parissāvane, ñātakānaṃ, pavāritānaṃ, aññassatthāya, attano dhanena, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.