Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on drinking alcohol

60. The training rule on hiding robes

Origin story

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

On one occasion when the monks from the group of seventeen had not put away their requisites,

the monks from the group of six hid their bowls and robes.

The monks from the group of seventeen said to them,

“Give us our bowls and robes.”

The monks from the group of six laughed, but the monks from the group of seventeen cried.

The monks asked them,

“Why are you crying?”

“’Cause the monks from the group of six have hidden our bowls and robes.”

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How could the monks from the group of six hide the bowls and robes of other monks?” …

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

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“Foolish men, how could you do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a monk hides a monk’s bowl, robe, sitting mat, needle case, or belt, or he has it hidden, even just for a laugh, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

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.

A monk’s:

another monk’s.

Bowl:

there are two kinds of bowls: iron bowls and ceramic bowls.

Robe:

one of the six kinds of robe-cloth, but not smaller than what can be assigned to another.

Sitting mat:

one with a border is what is meant.

Needle case:

with or without needles.

Belt:

there are two kinds of belts: those made from strips of cloth and those made from pigs’ intestines.

Hides:

if he hides it himself, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Has hidden:

if he asks another, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he only asks once, then even if the other hides many things, he commits one offense entailing confession.

Even just for a laugh:

aiming to have fun.

Permutations

If the other monk is fully ordained, and he perceives him as such, and he hides his bowl or robe or sitting mat or needle case or belt, or he has it hidden, even just for a laugh, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If the other monk is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he hides his bowl or robe or sitting mat or needle case or belt, or he has it hidden, even just for a laugh, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If the other monk is fully ordained, but he does not perceive him as such, and he hides his bowl or robe or sitting mat or needle case or belt, or he has it hidden, even just for a laugh, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he hides another requisite, or he has it hidden, even just for a laugh, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If he hides the bowl or robe or other requisite of someone who is not fully ordained, or he has it hidden, even just for a laugh, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if he is not aiming to have fun;

if he puts away what has been improperly put away;

if he puts something away with the thought, “After giving a teaching, I’ll give it back;”

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The training rule on hiding robes, the tenth, is finished.

The sixth subchapter on drinking alcohol is finished.

This is the summary:

“Alcohol, finger, and laughter,

And disrespect, scaring;

Fire, bathing, stain,

Himself, and with hiding.”