Monks’ Relinquishment 1: the kathina period

Venerables, these thirty rules entailing relinquishment and confession come up for recitation.

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Vesālī at the Gotamaka Shrine. At that time the Master had allowed the three robes to the monks. Being aware of this, some monks belonging to the group of six entered the village with one set of three robes, remained in the forest with another set, and went to bathe with yet another set. The monk of few desires … complained and criticised them: “How can these monks keep extra robes?”

After rebuking those monks in many ways they informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that you keep extra robes?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha, the Master, rebuked them: “… Foolish men, how can you keep extra robes? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Preliminary ruling

“If a monk keeps an extra robe, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.”

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

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a robe was offered to Venerable Ānanda, but he wished to give it to Venerable Sāriputta who was staying at Saketa. Knowing that the Buddha had laid down a rule against keeping an extra robe, Venerable Ānanda thought, “What should I do in this situation?” He informed the Master, who said: “How long is it, Ānanda, before Sāriputta returns?”

“Nine or ten days, Master.”

The Master then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to keep an extra robe for ten days at the most. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

“When his robe is finished and the kathina period has ended, a monk should keep an extra robe for ten days at the most. If he keeps it beyond that, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.”

Definitions

When his robe is finished: the monk has made a robe, or it has been lost, destroyed, or burnt, or he abandons his expectation of receiving robe cloth.

The kathina period has ended: it has ended according to one of the eight headings or it is ended by the Sangha, whichever comes first.

Ten days at the most: it is to be kept at most ten days.

An extra robe: a robe that is not determined, nor placed under shared ownership.

Robe: one of the six kinds of robes, but not smaller than what can be placed under shared ownership.

If he keeps it beyond that, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment:

He commits the offence entailing relinquishment on the dawn of the eleventh day. The robe is to be relinquished to a Sangha, a group, or an individual.

“And, monks, it is to be relinquished in this way. After approaching the Sangha, that monk should put his upper robe over one shoulder and pay homage at the feet of the senior monks. He should then squat on his haunches, put the palms of his hands together, and say: ‘Bhante, this robe of mine has been kept over ten days and is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ After relinquishing it, he is to confess the offence. The confession should be received by an experienced and competent monk. The relinquished robe is then to be given back:

“‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. This robe belonging to monk so-and-so, which was to be relinquished, has been relinquished to the Sangha. If it seems appropriate to the Sangha, the Sangha should give this robe back to monk so-and-so.’

“After approaching several monks, that monk should put his upper robe over one shoulder and pay homage at the feet of the senior monks. He should then squat on his haunches, put the palms of his hands together, and say: ‘Bhante, this robe of mine has been kept over ten days and is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Venerables.’ After relinquishing it, he is to confess the offence. The confession should be received by an experienced and competent monk. The relinquished robe is then to be given back:

“‘Let the Venerables listen to me. This robe belonging to monk so-and-so, which was to be relinquished, has been relinquished to the Venerables. If it seems appropriate to the Venerables, the Venerables should give this robe back to monk so-and-so.’

“After approaching a single monk, that monk should put his upper robe over one shoulder, squat on his haunches, put the palms of his hands together, and say: ‘This robe of mine has been kept over ten days and is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Venerable One.’ After relinquishing it, he is to confess the offence. The confession should be received by that monk. The relinquished robe is then to be given back: ‘I give this robe back to the Venerable.’”

Permutations

If it is more than ten days and he perceives it as more than ten days, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is more than ten days, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is more than ten days, but he perceives it as less than ten days, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.

If it is undetermined, but he perceives it as determined, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is not placed under shared ownership, but he perceives it as placed under shared ownership, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is not given away, but he perceives it as given away, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is not lost, but he perceives it as lost, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is not destroyed, but he perceives it as destroyed, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is not burnt, but he perceives it as burnt, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is not stolen, but he perceives it as stolen, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he uses a robe which is to be relinquished without first relinquishing it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than ten days, but he perceives it as more than ten days, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than ten days, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than ten days and he perceives it as less than ten days, there is no offence.

Non-offences

There is no offence: if within ten days it is determined, placed under shared ownership, given away, lost, destroyed, burnt, stolen, or taken on trust; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

At that time some monks belonging to the group six did not give back a relinquished robe. They informed the Master. “Monks, a relinquished robe is not not to be given back. If one does not give it back, there is an offence of bad conduct.”

The first rule, the training rule on the kathina period, is finished.