Lzh Mg Bu Vb Np 3Out-of-Season Robe Cloth

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– NIḤSARGIKA RULES FOR MONKS

– EXPLAINING THE BEGINNING SECTION OF THE THIRTY NIḤSARGIKA PĀYATTIKA RULES.

3. RULE: KEEPING ROBE CLOTH BEYOND THE PERMITTED PERIOD.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described in detail above. At that time, the Venerable Anuruddha, while staying by the river Aciravatī, had obtained a small piece of cloth. He brought it down to the river Aciravatī, washed it, and stored it away, intending to seek additional pieces. At that time, the Blessed One disappeared from his dwelling place and appeared on the bank of the river Aciravatī. Though he already knew, he nonetheless asked Anuruddha: "What are you doing?"

He replied: "Blessed One, I have obtained a small piece of cloth, but it is not of sufficient size. I intend to seek additional pieces."

The Buddha said to Anuruddha: "Is there somewhere you have hope of obtaining more cloth?"

He replied: "There is."

The Blessed One asked: "How long will it take?"

He replied: "One month."

The Buddha instructed: "From this time forward, I permit anyone who has cloth that is insufficient to make a robe, and who has hope of obtaining more, to wait one month in order to gather enough." Then the Buddha commanded all the monks dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble together, and even those who had already heard were required to hear again, and he laid down the rule:

"If a monk has completed his robes and the Kaṭhina robe has been relinquished, and he receives out-of-season robe cloth while he is in need of a robe, he should quickly sew it into a robe for use. If the amount of cloth is insufficient to make a robe but there is hope of obtaining more to complete it, I permit him to store it for one month. However, if it is stored for more than one month, whether the cloth is sufficient or insufficient, he commits a Niḥsargika Pāyattika offense."

Explanation:

—Robes completed: When the three robes are fully in order, this is also called robes completed. Not having received the Kaṭhina robe is also called robes completed. Having relinquished the Kaṭhina robe is also called robes completed. Having washed and dyed one's robes is also called robes completed.

—Having relinquished the Kaṭhina robe: There are ten cases of relinquishing the Kaṭhina robe, as explained above.

—Received cloth: Cloth received from laypeople or from monastics is called received cloth.

—Out-of-season: If one has received the Kaṭhina robe, the out-of-season period is seven months. If one has not received the Kaṭhina robe, the out-of-season period is eleven months. If cloth is received during that period, that cloth is out-of-season cloth.

—Cloth: As described above.

—In need: If the monk genuinely has need of a robe, he may use the cloth just received to quickly sew a robe for use. If the cloth is not yet sufficient, he may extend the period by one month, that is, thirty days, and may store it during that time while waiting to accumulate enough.

—Hope: If a monk hears that cloth will be offered at some place, he may wait until he has enough, and is therefore permitted to store it for one month. If he exceeds one month, he commits a Niḥsargika Pāyattika offense.

—Niḥsargika Pāyattika: That robe cloth must be relinquished before the Saṅgha, and then the Pāyattika offense must be confessed. If he confesses without relinquishing, he commits a Vinaya transgression offense.

—Pāyattika: As described above. If during those ten days a monk has hope of receiving more cloth, and then loses that hope, or has very faint hope, or has no hope at all, or has weak hope, or hopes again and then loses hope, or hopes in some other place, and so forth — all such cases constitute an improper extension of the period. If when sufficient cloth has been obtained, half of it has been made allowable through the act of making it pure (kappiyaṃ karotha), and half has not been so treated, then the portion that has been made allowable is considered lawful; as for the portion that has not been made allowable, if it is kept beyond ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If during the first ten days a monk receives cloth from a householder, or receives dust-heap cloth, but does not sew a robe himself, does not have another sew it for him, has no need for it, and does not perform the act of making it allowable, then whether that cloth is made into a robe or not, together with any remaining cloth, if kept beyond ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If during the first ten days a monk receives old cloth or cloth scraps, and does not sew a robe himself, does not have another sew it for him, and keeps it beyond ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If during the middle ten days a monk receives cloth that has been fully washed or not fully washed, and does not sew a robe himself, does not have another sew it for him, does not use it, and does not perform the act of making it allowable, then whether that cloth is made into a robe or not, together with any remaining cloth, if kept beyond ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If during the ten days a monk receives cloth that is suitable or unsuitable, accepts it but does not sew a robe himself, does not have another sew a robe for him, and keeps it beyond ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If during the last ten days a monk receives cloth and initially intends to sew one robe, but then wishes to sew two robes, and other monks say to that monk: "Elder, you initially intended to sew one robe; why are you now sewing two robes? You should sew one robe as you originally planned." If that monk, having received cloth, does not sew a robe himself, does not have another sew it for him, and keeps it beyond the last ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If during the last ten days a monk receives cloth intending to sew a small multi-patched robe, but then sews a large multi-patched robe, and other monks say to that monk: "Elder, you initially intended to sew a small multi-patched robe; why are you now sewing a large multi-patched robe? You should sew according to your original plan." If that monk, having received cloth, does not sew a robe himself, does not have another sew it for him, does not use it, and does not perform the act of making it allowable, then whether that cloth is made into a robe or not, together with any remaining cloth that has been kept beyond ten days, a Niḥsargika offense is committed.

If a monk receives cloth during the first ten days, he should sew the robe within those first ten days. If cloth is received during the middle ten days, he should sew the robe within those middle ten days. If cloth is received during the last ten days, he should sew the robe within those last ten days.

If during the first ten days five days have already passed and a monk has hope of receiving cloth, then within the remaining five days of the first ten days and the first five days of the middle ten days — within that span of ten days — he should sew the robe.

If during the middle ten days the first five days have entirely passed and a monk has hope of receiving cloth, then within the remaining five days of the middle ten days and the first five days of the last ten days — within that span of ten days — he should sew the robe.

If during the last ten days the first five days have entirely passed and a monk has hope of receiving cloth, he should sew the robe within those remaining five days.

If during the last ten days six days have already passed before hope of receiving cloth arises, he should sew the robe within the remaining four days. Or if seven days have passed before cloth is received, he should sew the robe within the remaining three days. Or if eight days have entirely passed before cloth is received, he should sew the robe within the remaining two days.

Or if nine days have entirely passed before cloth is received, he should sew the robe within the remaining one day. If cloth is received on the tenth day, he should sew the robe on that very day. When sewing the robe, he should enlist others to help.

Then he should wash it thoroughly, cut it, stitch it, embroider it, sew it crosswise, sew it lengthwise, sew a border all around, take it to be dyed, perform the act of making it allowable, and only then use it. If he fears that he cannot finish in one day, he should do it roughly enough to be usable. Afterward he may then mend it properly.

Therefore the Blessed One taught:

"If a monk has completed his robes and the Kaṭhina robe has been relinquished … up to whether the cloth is sufficient or insufficient to sew a robe, if it is kept beyond one month, a Niḥsargika offense is committed."

End of the Third Niḥsargika Rule

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH