Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on relinquishment

The subchapter on silk

14. The training rule on six years

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time monks were having blankets made every year.

They kept on begging and asking,

“Please give wool!

We need wool!”

People complained and criticized them,

“How can the Sakyan monastics have blankets made every year, begging and asking,

‘Please give wool! We need wool!’?

We only make blankets for ourselves every five or six years, even though our children defecate and urinate on them and they are eaten by rats.”

The monks heard the complaints of those people,

and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,

“How can those monks do this?”

After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:

“Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them,

“How can those foolish men do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years.

Whether that blanket has been given away or not, if he has another new blanket made in less than six years, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

At one time a certain monk at Kosambī was sick.

His relatives sent him a message, saying,

“Come, venerable, we’ll nurse you.”

The monks

urged him to go,

but he said,

“The Buddha has laid down a training rule

that a monk who has had a new blanket made must keep it for six years.

Now because I’m sick, I’m unable to travel with my blanket.

And because I’m not comfortable without it,

I can’t go.”

They told the Buddha.

Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to give permission to a sick monk to make a blanket.

And it should be given like this.

After approaching the Sangha, the sick monk should arrange his upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the senior monks. He should then squat on his heels, raise his joined palms, and say,

‘Venerables, I’m sick.

I’m unable to travel with my blanket.

I ask the Sangha for permission to make a blanket.’

And he should ask a second

and a third time.

A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha:

‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.

The monk so-and-so is sick. He’s unable to travel with his blanket.

He’s asking the Sangha for permission to make a blanket.

If the Sangha is ready, it should give permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket.

This is the motion.

Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.

The monk so-and-so is sick. He’s unable to travel with his blanket.

He’s asking the Sangha for permission to make a blanket.

The Sangha gives permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket.

Any monk who approves of giving permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket should remain silent.

Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

The Sangha has given permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket.

The Sangha approves and is therefore silent.

I’ll remember it thus.’

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years.

Whether that blanket has been given away or not, if he has another new blanket made in less than six years, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Definitions

New:

newly made is what is meant.

A blanket:

it is made by strewing, not by weaving.

Has had made:

has made or has had made.

He should keep it for six years:

he should keep it for six years at a minimum.

In less than six years:

fewer than six years.

That blanket has been given away:

it has been given to others.

Not:

it has not been given to anyone.

Except if the monks have agreed:

if he makes another new blanket, or has one made, unless the monks have agreed, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct.

When he gets the blanket, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

The blanket should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual.

“And, monks, it should be relinquished like this.

(To be expanded as in Bu NP 1:3.2.5–3.2.29, with appropriate substitutions.)

‘Venerables, this blanket, which I got made after less than six years without the agreement of the monks, is to be relinquished.

I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ …

the Sangha should give …

you should give …

‘I give this blanket back to you.’”

Permutations

If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if he makes one after six years;

if he makes one after more than six years;

if he makes one, or has one made, for the sake of another;

if he gets what was made by another and then uses it;

if he makes a canopy, a floor cover, a cloth screen, a mattress, or a pillow;

if he has the permission of the monks;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The training rule on six years, the fourth, is finished.