Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on plants

14. The training rule on furniture

Origin story

First sub-story

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

the monks put furniture out in the open in order to warm themselves in the sun. But when the time for departure was announced, they departed without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone.

The furniture was rained on.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How could those monks put furniture out in the open and then depart without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone? The furniture was rained on.”

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 you did this?” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a monk takes a bed, a bench, a mattress, or a stool belonging to the Sangha and puts it out in the open or has it put out in the open, and he then departs without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

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

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards, monks who had stayed out in the open brought the furniture back even though it was not the rainy season.

The Buddha saw this.

After giving a teaching, he addressed the monks:

“Monks, during the eight months outside of the rainy season, I allow you to store furniture under a roof cover or at the foot of a tree or wherever crows or ravens don’t leave droppings.”

Definitions

A:

whoever …

Monk:

…The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

Belonging to the Sangha:

given to the Sangha, given up to the Sangha.

A bed:

there are four kinds of beds:

one with legs and frame, called masāraka; one with legs and frame, called bundikābaddha; one with crooked legs; one with detachable legs.

A bench:

there are four kinds of benches: one with legs and frame, called masāraka; one with legs and frame, called bundikābaddha; one with crooked legs; one with detachable legs.

A mattress:

there are five kinds of mattresses: a mattress stuffed with wool, a mattress stuffed with cloth, a mattress stuffed with bark, a mattress stuffed with grass, a mattress stuffed with leaves.

A stool:

one made of bark, one made of vetiver grass, one made of reed. It is upholstered and then bound together.

Puts it:

puts it oneself.

Has it put:

gets another to put it.

If he gets one who is not fully ordained to put it, it is the responsibility of the monk.

If he gets one who is fully ordained to put it, it is the responsibility of the one who puts it.

Departs without putting it away:

he does not put it away himself.

Having it put away:

he does not get another to put it away.

Or informing anyone:

if he does not inform a monk, a novice monk, or a monastery worker, then when he goes beyond the distance of a stone’s throw of an average man, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it belongs to the Sangha, and he perceives it as such, and he puts it out in the open or has it put out in the open, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it belongs to the Sangha, but he is unsure of it …

If it belongs to the Sangha, but he perceives it as belonging to an individual, and he puts it out in the open or has it put out in the open, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is a mat underlay, a bedspread, a floor cover, a straw mat, a hide, a foot-wiping cloth, or a plank bench, and he puts it out in the open or has it put out in the open, and he then departs without putting it away or having it put away or informing anyone, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it belongs to an individual, but he perceives it as belonging to the Sangha, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it belongs to an individual, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it belongs to an individual, and he perceives it as such, but that individual is not himself, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it belongs to himself, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if he departs after putting it away;

if he departs after having it put away;

if he departs after informing someone;

if he departs while he is sunning it;

if the furniture is obstructed;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The training rule on furniture, the fourth, is finished.