Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood near Vesālī, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. the monks from the group of six were having blankets made entirely of black wool. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū suddhakāḷakānaṁ eḷakalomānaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti. People who were walking about the dwellings complained and criticized them, Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the Sakyan monastics have blankets made entirely of black wool? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā suddhakāḷakānaṁ eḷakalomānaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, seyyathāpi gihī kāmabhogino”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the monks from the group of six have blankets made entirely of black wool?” “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū suddhakāḷakānaṁ eḷakalomānaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessantī”ti.

After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho te bhikkhū chabbaggiye bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, suddhakāḷakānaṁ eḷakalomānaṁ santhataṁ kārāpethā”ti?

“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, suddhakāḷakānaṁ eḷakalomānaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—