Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time monks were having blankets made every year. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti. They kept on begging and asking, Te yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti—“Please give wool! “eḷakalomāni detha. We need wool!” Eḷakalomehi attho”ti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the Sakyan monastics have blankets made every year, begging and asking, “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti—‘Please give wool! We need wool!’? ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti. We only make blankets for ourselves every five or six years, even though our children defecate and urinate on them and they are eaten by rats.” Amhākaṁ pana sakiṁ katāni santhatāni pañcapi chapi vassāni honti, yesaṁ no dārakā uhadantipi ummihantipi undūrehipi khajjanti. Ime pana samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti—‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”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 can those monks do this?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti—‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”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 te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti—‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them, Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can those foolish men do this? kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti—‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years. “Navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabbaṁ. Whether that blanket has been given away or not, if he has another new blanket made in less than six years, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’” Orena ce channaṁ vassānaṁ taṁ santhataṁ vissajjetvā vā avissajjetvā vā aññaṁ navaṁ santhataṁ kārāpeyya, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

At one time a certain monk at Kosambī was sick. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kosambiyaṁ gilāno hoti. His relatives sent him a message, saying, Ñātakā tassa bhikkhuno santike dūtaṁ pāhesuṁ—“Come, venerable, we’ll nurse you.” “āgacchatu bhadanto mayaṁ upaṭṭhahissāmā”ti. The monks Bhikkhūpi evamāhaṁsu—urged him to go, “gacchāvuso, ñātakā taṁ upaṭṭhahissantī”ti. but he said, So evamāha—“The Buddha has laid down a training rule “bhagavatā, āvuso, sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ—that a monk who has had a new blanket made must keep it for six years. ‘navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabban’ti. Now because I’m sick, I’m unable to travel with my blanket. Ahañcamhi gilāno, na sakkomi santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ. And because I’m not comfortable without it, Mayhañca vinā santhatā na phāsu hoti. I can’t go.” Nāhaṁ gamissāmī”ti.

They told the Buddha. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.

Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to give permission to a sick monk to make a blanket. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṁ dātuṁ.

And it should be given like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā. After approaching the Sangha, the sick monk should arrange his upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the senior monks. He should then squat on his heels, raise his joined palms, and say, Tena gilānena bhikkhunā saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā vuḍḍhānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—‘Venerables, I’m sick. ‘ahaṁ, bhante, gilāno I’m unable to travel with my blanket. na sakkomi santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ. I ask the Sangha for permission to make a blanket.’ Sohaṁ, bhante, saṅghaṁ santhatasammutiṁ yācāmī’ti. And he should ask a second Dutiyampi yācitabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi yācitabbā. A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha: Byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—