Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on precious things

86. The training rule on needle cases

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu.

At that time an ivory-worker had invited the monks

who needed needle cases to ask for one.

And the monks asked for many needle cases.

Those who had small needle cases asked for large ones,

and those who had large needle cases asked for small ones.

The ivory-worker was so busy making needle cases for the monks that he was unable to make goods for sale. He could not make a living for himself, and his wives and children suffered.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can the Sakyan monastics not have any sense of moderation and ask for many needle cases?

This ivory-worker is so busy making needle cases for them that he’s unable to make goods for sale. He can’t make a living for himself, and his wives and children are suffering.”

The monks heard the complaints of those people,

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

“How can those monks not have a sense of moderation and ask for many needle cases?” …

“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:

Final ruling

‘If a monk has a needle case made from bone, ivory, or horn, it is to be destroyed, and 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.

Bone:

any kind of bone.

Ivory:

elephant tooth is what is meant.

Horn:

any kind of horn.

Has made:

if he makes one or has one made, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct.

When he gets it, it is to be destroyed, and he is then to confess an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

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

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

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

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

If he makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If he gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if it is a toggle;

if it is a fire kindler;

if it is a buckle;

if it is an ointment box;

if it is an ointment stick;

if it is an adz handle;

if it is a water wiper;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The training rule on needle cases, the fourth, is finished.