Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on relinquishment

The subchapter on silk

16. The training rule on wool

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

a certain monk was given wool as he was walking through the Kosalan country on his way to Sāvatthī.

He bound it into a bundle with his upper robe and carried on.

People who saw him teased him,

“Venerable, how much did it cost you?

How much will the profit be?”

As a result he was humiliated.

When he arrived at Sāvatthī, he threw the wool to the ground.

The monks asked him why.

“People have been teasing me because of this wool.”

“But how far have you carried it?”

“Over 40 kilometers.”

The monks of few desires complained and criticized him,

“How could a monk carry wool more than 40 kilometers?”

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

“Is it true, monk, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked him …

“Foolish man, how could you do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If wool is given to a monk who is traveling, he may receive it if he wishes.

If he receives it and there is no one else to carry it, he may carry it himself for at most 40 kilometers.

If he carries it further than that, even if there is no one else to carry it, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Definitions

To a monk who is traveling:

to one who is walking on a road.

If wool is given:

if it is given by a sangha, by a group, by a relative, by a friend, or if it is discarded wool, or if he got it by means of his own property.

If he wishes:

if he desires, he may receive it.

If he receives it, he may carry it himself for at most 40 kilometers:

he may carry it himself a maximum of 40 kilometers.

There is no one else to carry it:

there is no other person who can carry it, either a woman or a man, either a lay person or a monastic.

If he carries it further than that, even if there is no one else to carry it:

when he goes beyond 40 kilometers with the first foot, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When he goes beyond with the second foot, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he stands within the 40 kilometer limit, but drops it beyond the 40 kilometer limit, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he places it in the vehicle or among the goods of another without their knowledge, and it goes more than 40 kilometers, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

The wool 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 wool, which I have taken more than 40 kilometers, is to be relinquished.

I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ …

the Sangha should give …

you should give …

‘I give this wool back to you.’”

Permutations

If he takes it more than 40 kilometers and he perceives it as more, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he takes it more than 40 kilometers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he takes it more than 40 kilometers, but he perceives it as less, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he takes it less than 40 kilometers, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If he takes it less than 40 kilometers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If he takes it less than 40 kilometers and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if he carries it 40 kilometers;

if he carries it less than 40 kilometers;

if he carries it 40 kilometers and then carries it back;

if he takes it 40 kilometers with the intention of staying there, but then takes it further;

if he gets back what had been taken from him and then carries it on;

if he gets back what he had given up and then carries it on;

if he gets someone else to carry it;

if it is a finished article;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The training rule on wool, the sixth, is finished.