Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on relinquishment

The subchapter on robes

9. The second training rule on what is set aside

Origin story

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

a certain man said to another man,

“I’m going to give robe-cloth to Venerable Upananda.”

And he replied,

“So am I.”

An alms-collecting monk heard that conversation.

He then went to Upananda the Sakyan and said,

“Upananda, you have much merit.

In such-and-such a place I heard two men telling each other

that they’re each going to give you robe-cloth.”

“They are my supporters.”

Upananda then went to those men and said,

“Is it true that you want to give me robe-cloth?”

“Yes,

that’s just what we were thinking.”

“If that’s the case, then give me such-and-such robe-cloth.

For what’s the point of giving robe-cloth that I won’t use?”

Those men complained and criticized him,

“These Sakyan monastics have great desires. They’re not content.

It’s no easy matter to give them robe-cloth.

How could Venerable Upananda come to us and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited by us to do so?”

The monks heard the complaints of those men,

and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him,

“How could Venerable Upananda go to householders and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited to do so?”

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

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

“It’s true, sir.”

“Are they relatives of yours?”

“No.”

“Foolish man, people who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s good and bad, in dealing with each other.

And still you did this.

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If two male or female householders have set aside separate robe funds for an unrelated monk, thinking,

“With these separate robe funds we’ll buy separate robe-cloths and give them to monk so-and-so;”

and if that monk, without first being invited, goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, saying,

“Please put these separate robe funds together to buy such-and-such robe-cloth and then give it to me,”

and he does so because he wants something fine, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Definitions

For a monk:

for the benefit of a monk; making a monk the object of consideration, they want to give to him.

Two:

a pair.

Unrelated:

anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back eight generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side.

Male householders:

any men who live at home.

Female householders:

any women who live at home.

Robe funds:

money, gold, pearls, gems, corals, crystals, cloth, thread, or cotton wool.

With these separate robe funds:

with that which is at their disposal.

We’ll buy:

having traded.

We’ll give:

we’ll donate.

If that monk:

the monk the robe funds have been set aside for.

Without first being invited:

they have not said beforehand: “Venerable, what kind of robe-cloth do you need? What kind of robe-cloth can we buy for you?”

Goes to them:

having gone to their house or having gone wherever.

Specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants:

please make it long or wide or closely woven or soft.

These separate robe funds:

that which is at their disposal.

Such-and-such:

long or wide or closely woven or soft.

To buy:

having traded.

Give:

donate.

Put together:

two people supplying him with one robe-cloth.

Because he wants something fine:

wanting something good, wanting something expensive.

If those householders buy robe-cloth that is long, wide, closely woven, or soft because of his statement, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct.

When he gets the robe-cloth, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

The robe-cloth 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 robe-cloth, which I received after going to unrelated householders and saying what kind of robe-cloth I wanted without first being invited, is to be relinquished.

I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ …

the Sangha should give …

you should give …

‘I give this robe-cloth back to you.’”

Permutations

If the householders are unrelated and he perceives them as such, and, without first being invited, he goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If the householders are unrelated, but he is unsure of it, and, without first being invited, he goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If the householders are unrelated, but he perceives them as related, and, without first being invited, he goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If the householders are related, but he perceives them as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the householders are related, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the householders are related and he perceives them as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if it is from relatives;

if it is from those who have given an invitation;

if it is for the benefit of another;

if it is by means of his own property;

if the householders wish to buy something expensive, but he has them buy something inexpensive;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The second training rule on what is set aside, the ninth, is finished.