Monks’ Relinquishment 3: the third training rule on the kathina period

Origin story

At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time a certain monk had been offered robe cloth outside of the robe season. While he was making the robe, he realised there was not enough cloth. Lifting it up, he smoothed it out again and again.The point, according to the commentary, is that he was trying to increase its size.

While inspecting the lodgings, the Master saw that monk acting in this way. He approached him and said: “Monk, what are you doing?”

“Bhante, I have received this robe cloth outside of the robe season, but it’s not enough to make a robe. This is why I lift it up and smooth it out again and again.”

“Do you expect to receive more cloth?”

“I do, Master.”

The Master then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to keep robe cloth if you expect to receive more.”

When they knew that the Master had given this allowance, some monks kept robe cloth for over a month, even though it was outside the robe season. They kept it tied up in a bundle on a robe rack.

While inspecting the lodgings, Venerable Ānanda saw that robe cloth, and he asked the monks: “Whose robe cloth is this?”

“It is our out-of-season robe cloth, which we are keeping because we are expecting more cloth.”

“How long have you kept this cloth?”

“Over a month.”

Venerable Ānanda complained and criticised them: “How can these monks keep out-of-season robe cloth for over a month?”

After criticising those monks in many ways, Venerable Ānanda informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that some monks keep out-of-season robe cloth for over a month?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “… How could these foolish men keep out-of-season robe cloth for over a month? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

“When his robe is finished and the kathina period has ended, if out-of-season robe cloth is offered to a monk, he may receive it if he wishes. If he receives it, he should quickly make a robe. If there is not enough cloth, but he expects to get more, he should keep it at most one month to make up the lack. If he keeps it beyond that, even if he expects more cloth, 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. and Mv 7.2–7.12.

Out-of-season robe cloth: If the kathina ceremony has not been performed, robe cloth offered during the eleven months. If the kathina ceremony has been performed, robe cloth offered during the seven months. Also, if it is given in the robe season, but it is designated as out-of-season cloth, it is called out-of-season robe cloth.

If (it) is offered: if offered by a Sangha, by a group, by relatives, or by friends, or if he gets rags, or if he gets it by means his own property.

If he wishes: if he desires, he may receive it.

If he receives it, he should quickly make a robe: it should be made within ten days.

If there is not enough cloth: if there is not enough cloth when the robe is being made.

He should keep it at most one month: he should keep it for one month at most.

To make up the lack: for the purpose of making up the lack.

But he expects to get more: he expects to get more from the Sangha, from a group, from relatives, from friends, or he expects to get rags, or he expects to get it by means of his own property.

If he keeps it beyond that, even if he expects more cloth:

If he receives the expected robe cloth on the same day as when he received the original robe cloth, it must be made into a robe within ten days. If he receives the expected robe cloth two days after he received the original robe cloth, it must be made into a robe within ten days. If he receives the expected robe cloth three days after … four days after … five days after … six days after … seven days after … eight days after … nine days after … ten days after … eleven days after … twelve days after … thirteen days after … fourteen days after … fifteen days after … sixteen days after … seventeen days after … eighteen days after … nineteen days after … twenty days after he received the original robe cloth, it must be made into a robe within ten days. If he receives the expected robe cloth twenty-one days after he received the original robe cloth, it must be made into a robe within nine days. If he receives the expected robe cloth twenty-two days after he received the original robe cloth, it must be made into a robe within eight days. … twenty-three days after … twenty-four days after … twenty-five days after … twenty-six days after … twenty-seven days after … twenty-eight days after … twenty-nine days … thirty days after he received the original robe cloth, it must be determined, placed under shared ownership, or given away on that very day. If he does not determine it, place it under shared ownership, or give it away, he commits the offence entailing relinquishment at dawn on the thirty-first 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. … To be expanded as in Bu-NP.1.3.2, with appropriate substitutions. … ‘Bhante, this out-of-season robe cloth of mine, which I have kept for more than a month, is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ … the Sangha should give … the Venerables should give … ‘I give this robe back to the Venerable.’”

If he receives the expected robe cloth, but it is different from the robe cloth originally received, and there are days remaining, he does not have to make a robe against his wishes.

Permutations

If it is more than a month and he perceives it as more than a month, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is more than a month, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is more than a month, but he perceives it as less than a month, 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 a month, but he perceives it as more than a month, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than a month, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is less than a month and he perceives it as less than a month, there is no offence.

Non-offences

There is no offence: if within a month 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.

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