Theravāda Vinayapiṭaka

Monks’ rules and their analysis

Monks’ Relinquishment 2: outbuildings

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time some monks stored one of their robes with other monks and then left to travel the countryside with a lower and an upper robe. Because they were stored for a long time, the robes became mouldy, and the monks put them out in the sun.

While inspecting the lodgings, Venerable Ānanda saw the monks sunning those robes. He asked them: “Whose are these mouldy robes?” And they told him what had happened. Venerable Ānanda complained and criticised them: “How can the monks store one of their robes with other monks and then leave to travel the countryside with a lower and an upper robe ?”

After criticising those monks in many ways, Venerable Ānanda informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that some monks store one of their robes with other monks and then leave to travel the countryside with a lower and an upper robe ?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “… How could these foolish men store one of their robes with other monks and then leave to travel the countryside with a lower and an upper robe? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Preliminary ruling

“When his robe is finished and the kathina period has ended, if a monk stays apart from his three robes even for a single day, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.”

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

Second sub-story

At one time a certain monk was sick in Kosambī. His relatives sent a message to that monk: “Come, bhante, we will attend to you.” Other monks urged him to go, but he said: “The Master has laid down a training rule that you cannot be apart from your three robes. Because I am sick, I am not able to travel with all three robes, and therefore I cannot go.”

They informed the Master. He then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to give permission to a sick monk to stay apart from his three robes. And it should be given in this way. After approaching the Sangha, the sick 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, I am sick. I am not able to travel with my three robes. I ask the Sangha for permission to stay apart from my three robes.’ And he should ask a second and a third time. An experienced and competent monk should then inform the Sangha:

“‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. This monk so-and-so is sick. He is not able to travel with his three robes. He is asking the Sangha for permission to stay apart from his three robes. If it seems appropriate to the Sangha, the Sangha should give permission to monk so-and-so to stay apart from his three robes. This is the motion.

“‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. This monk so-and-so is sick. He is not able to travel with his three robes. He is asking the Sangha for permission to stay apart from his three robes. The Sangha gives permission to monk so-and-so to stay apart from his three robes. Any monk who agrees to giving permission to monk so-and-so to stay apart from his three robes should remain silent. Any monk who does not agree should say so.

“‘The Sangha has given permission to monk so-and-so to stay apart from his three robes. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’

“And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

“When his robe is finished and the kathina period has ended, if a monk stays apart from his three robes even for a single day, unless he has the permission of the monks, 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.

If a monk stays apart from his three robes even for a single day: from the outer robe, from the upper robe, or from the lower robe.

Unless he has the permission of the monks: except if he has the permission of the monks.

He commits an offence entailing relinquishment:

He commits the offence entailing relinquishment at dawn. 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 robe of mine, which I have stayed apart from for one day without the permission of the monks, 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.’”

Permutations

Permutations part 1

Summary

A village may have a single entrance or many; a building with attached land may have a single entrance or many; a building without attached land may have a single entrance or many; a boat may have a single entrance or many; a caravan may have a single neighbourhood or many; a field may have a single entrance or many; a threshing floor may have a single entrance or many; a park may have a single entrance or many; a monastery may have a single entrance or many; the foot of a tree may have a single neighbourhood or many; an open space may have a single neighbourhood or many.

Exposition

A village with a single entrance means it is an enclosed village belonging to one clan. If the robe is kept within the village, one must stay within the village. If the village is not enclosed: one must stay in the house where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed village belonging to many clans: if the robe is kept in a house, one must stay in that house, in the meeting hall, or at the entrance to the village; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. If one has put aside the robe within arms-reach, but one is going to the meeting hall, one must stay in the meeting hall, or at the entrance to the village; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. If the robe is kept in the meeting hall, one must stay in the hall, or at the entrance; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. It is unenclosed: one must stay in the house where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed building with attached land (nivesana and udosita), belonging to one clan and having many rooms: if the robe is kept in the building, one must stay within the building. It is unenclosed: one must stay in the room where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed building with attached land, belonging to many clans and having many rooms: if the robe is kept in a room, one must stay in that room, or at the entrance to the attached land; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. It is unenclosed: one must stay in the room where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

A building without attached land (aṭṭa, māḷa, pāsāda, and hammiya), belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept in the building, one must stay within the building. A building without attached land, belonging to many clans and having many rooms: one must stay in the room where the robe is kept, or at the entrance to the building; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

A boat belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept on the boat, one must stay on the boat. A boat belonging to many clans and having many rooms: one must stay in the room where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

A caravan belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept within the caravan, one must not go further than 100 metres in front of or behind the caravan, and not further than 14 metres from either side. A caravan belonging to many clans: if the robe is kept within the caravan, one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed field belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept within the field, one must stay within that field. It is unenclosed: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. An enclosed field belonging to many clans: if the robe is kept within the field, one must stay at the entrance to the field; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. It is unenclosed: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed threshing floor belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept on the threshing floor, one must stay on that threshing floor. It is unenclosed: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. An enclosed threshing floor belonging to many clans: if the robe is kept on the threshing floor, one must stay at the entrance to the threshing floor; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. It is unenclosed: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed park belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept within the park, one must stay within that park. It is unenclosed: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. An enclosed park belonging to many clans: if the robe is kept within the park, one must stay at the entrance to the park; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. It is unenclosed: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An enclosed monastery belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept within the monastery, one must stay within that monastery. It is unenclosed: one must stay in the monastic dwelling where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. An enclosed monastery belonging to many clans: one must stay in the monastic dwelling where the robe is kept, or at the entrance to the monastery; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe. It is unenclosed: one must stay in the monastic dwelling where the robe is kept; otherwise one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

The foot of a tree belonging to one clan: if the robe is kept within the area of the mid-day shadow of the tree, one must stay within that area. The foot of a tree belonging to many clans: one must not go beyond arms-reach of the robe.

An open space having one neighbourhood: this refers to the area, in the wilderness where there is no habitation, covered by a circle with a radius of 100 metres. Many neighbourhoods: whatever lies beyond that.

Permutations part 2

If he has stayed apart and he perceives that he has stayed apart, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he has stayed apart, but he has doubts about it, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he has stayed apart, but he perceives that he has not, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession.

If he has not relinquished the robe, but he perceives that he has, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he has not given away the robe, but he perceives that he has, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If he has not lost the robe, but he perceives that he has, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If the robe is not destroyed, but he perceives that it is, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If the robe is not burnt, but he perceives that it is, unless he has the permission of the monks, he commits an offence entailing relinquishment and confession. If the robe is not stolen, but he perceives that it is, unless he has the permission of the monks, 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 he has not stayed apart, but he perceives that he has, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he has not stayed apart, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he has not stayed apart and he perceives that he has not stayed apart, there is no offence.

Non-offences

There is no offence: if before dawn it is relinquished, given away, lost, destroyed, burnt, stolen, or taken on trust; if he has the permission of the monks; if he is insane; if he is the first offender

The second rule, the training rule on outbuildings, is finished