Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a government official who was about to set out on a journey sent a message to the monks, saying, Tena kho pana samayena aññataro mahāmatto pavāsaṁ gacchanto bhikkhūnaṁ santike dūtaṁ pāhesi—“Come, venerables, I wish to give robe-cloth to those who have completed the rainy-season residence.” “āgacchantu bhadantā vassāvāsikaṁ dassāmī”ti.

The monks thought, Bhikkhū—“The Buddha has allowed such robes only for those who have completed the rains residence,” “vassaṁvuṭṭhānaṁ bhagavatā vassāvāsikaṁ anuññātan”ti, and being afraid of wrongdoing they did not go. kukkuccāyantā nāgamaṁsu. That government official complained and criticized them, Atha kho so mahāmatto ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“How could they not come when I send a message? “kathañhi nāma bhadantā mayā dūte pahite nāgacchissanti. I’m about to set out with the army. Ahañhi senāya gacchāmi. It’s hard to know whether I’ll live or die.” Dujjānaṁ jīvitaṁ dujjānaṁ maraṇan”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of that government official, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tassa mahāmattassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. and they told the Buddha. Atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to receive a haste-cloth, and then store it.” “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, accekacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetvā nikkhipitun”ti.

When they heard about this, Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū—“bhagavatā anuññātaṁ accekacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetvā nikkhipitun”ti, monks received haste-cloths and stored them beyond the robe season, accekacīvarāni paṭiggahetvā cīvarakālasamayaṁ atikkāmenti. keeping them in bundles on a bamboo robe rack. Tāni cīvarāni cīvaravaṁse bhaṇḍikābaddhāni tiṭṭhanti.

While walking about the dwellings, Venerable Ānanda saw that cloth, and he asked the monks, Addasa kho āyasmā ānando senāsanacārikaṁ āhiṇḍanto tāni cīvarāni cīvaravaṁse bhaṇḍikābaddhāni tiṭṭhante disvā bhikkhū etadavoca—“Whose cloth is this?” “kassimāni, āvuso, cīvarāni cīvaravaṁse bhaṇḍikābaddhāni tiṭṭhantī”ti?

“It’s our haste-cloth.” “Amhākaṁ, āvuso, accekacīvarānī”ti.

“But how long have you stored it?” “Kīvaciraṁ panāvuso, imāni cīvarāni nikkhittānī”ti?

They told him. Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa yathānikkhittaṁ ārocesuṁ. Ānanda then complained and criticized them, Āyasmā ānando ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“How could these monks receive haste-cloth and then store it beyond the robe season?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū accekacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetvā cīvarakālasamayaṁ atikkāmessantī”ti.

After rebuking those monks in many ways, Ānanda told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Atha kho āyasmā ānando te bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesi …pe…—“Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū accekacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetvā cīvarakālasamayaṁ atikkāmentī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Monks, how could those foolish men do this? kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā accekacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetvā cīvarakālasamayaṁ atikkāmessanti. 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—