• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
  • The chapter on relinquishment Nissaggiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on almsbowls Pattavagga

29. The training rule on what is risky 29. Sāsaṅkasikkhāpada

Origin 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 who had completed the rainy-season residence were staying in wilderness dwellings. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū vutthavassā āraññakesu senāsanesu viharanti. Thieves who were active during the month of Kattika attacked those monks, thinking, Kattikacorakā bhikkhū—“They have been given things.” “laddhalābhā”ti paripātenti.

The monks told the Buddha. 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 monks who are staying in wilderness dwellings to store one of their three robes in an inhabited area.” “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, āraññakesu senāsanesu viharantena tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitun”ti.

When they heard about this, monks stored one of their three robes in inhabited areas, staying apart from them for more than six days. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū—“bhagavatā anuññātaṁ āraññakesu senāsanesu viharantena tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitun”ti tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasanti. The robes were lost, destroyed, burned, and eaten by rats. Tāni cīvarāni nassantipi vinassantipi ḍayhantipi undūrehipi khajjanti. As a consequence, those monks became poorly dressed. Bhikkhū duccoḷā honti lūkhacīvarā. Other monks asked them why, Bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu—“kissa tumhe, āvuso, duccoḷā lūkhacīvarā”ti? and they told them what had happened. Atha kho te bhikkhū bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could those monks store one of their three robes in an inhabited area and then stay apart from it for more than six days?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasissantī”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 tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasantī”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 tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasissanti. 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—

Final ruling

‘There are wilderness dwellings that are considered risky and dangerous. After observing the Kattika full moon that ends the rainy season, a monk who is staying in such a dwelling may, if he so desires, store one of his three robes in an inhabited area so long as he has a reason for staying apart from that robe. “Upavassaṁ kho pana kattikapuṇṇamaṁ yāni kho pana tāni āraññakāni senāsanāni sāsaṅkasammatāni sappaṭibhayāni tathārūpesu bhikkhu senāsanesu viharanto ākaṅkhamāno tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipeyya, siyā ca tassa bhikkhuno kocideva paccayo tena cīvarena vippavāsāya. He should stay apart from that robe for six days at the most. If he stays apart from it longer than that, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’” Chārattaparamaṁ tena bhikkhunā tena cīvarena vippavasitabbaṁ. Tato ce uttari vippavaseyya, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.

Definitions

After observing: Upavassaṁ kho panāti
after completing the rainy season. vuṭṭhavassānaṁ.
The Kattika full moon that ends the rainy season: Kattikapuṇṇamanti
the fourth full moon of the rainy season in the month of Kattika is what is meant. kattikacātumāsinī vuccati.
There are wilderness dwellings: Yāni kho pana tāni āraññakāni senāsanānīti
a wilderness dwelling: āraññakaṁ nāma senāsanaṁ it is at least 800 meters away from any inhabited area. pañcadhanusatikaṁ pacchimaṁ.
Risky: Sāsaṅkaṁ nāma
in the monastery, or in the vicinity of the monastery, thieves have been seen camping, eating, standing, sitting, or lying down. ārāme ārāmūpacāre corānaṁ niviṭṭhokāso dissati, bhuttokāso dissati, ṭhitokāso dissati, nisinnokāso dissati, nipannokāso dissati.
Dangerous: Sappaṭibhayaṁ nāma
in the monastery, or in the vicinity of the monastery, thieves have been seen injuring, robbing, or beating people. ārāme ārāmūpacāre corehi manussā hatā dissanti, viluttā dissanti, ākoṭitā dissanti.
A monk who is staying in such a dwelling: Tathārūpesu bhikkhu senāsanesu viharantoti
a monk who is staying in that kind of dwelling. evarūpesu bhikkhu senāsanesu viharanto.
If he so desires: Ākaṅkhamānoti
if he so wishes. icchamāno.
One of his three robes: Tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaranti
the outer robe, the upper robe, or the sarong. saṅghāṭiṁ vā uttarāsaṅgaṁ vā antaravāsakaṁ vā.
May store in an inhabited area: Antaraghare nikkhipeyyāti
may store it anywhere in his alms village. samantā gocaragāme nikkhipeyya.
So long as he has a reason for staying apart from that robe: Siyā ca tassa bhikkhuno kocideva paccayo tena cīvarena vippavāsāyāti
if there is a reason, if there is something to be done. siyā paccayo siyā karaṇīyaṁ.
He should stay apart from that robe for six days at the most: Chārattaparamaṁ tena bhikkhunā tena cīvarena vippavasitabbanti
he should stay apart from it for six days at a maximum. chārattaparamatā vippavasitabbaṁ.
Except if the monks have agreed: Aññatra bhikkhusammutiyāti
unless the monks have agreed. ṭhapetvā bhikkhusammutiṁ.
If he stays apart from it longer than that: Tato ce uttari vippavaseyyāti
the robe becomes subject to relinquishment at dawn on the seventh day. sattame aruṇuggamane nissaggiyaṁ hoti.

The robe should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual. Nissajjitabbaṁ saṅghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. “And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṁ. (To be expanded as in <a href='https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-np1#3.2.5'>Bu NP 1:3.2.5</a>–3.2.29, with appropriate substitutions.) …pe…

‘Venerables, this robe, which I have stayed apart from for more than six days without the agreement of the monks, is to be relinquished. idaṁ me, bhante, cīvaraṁ atirekachārattaṁ vippavutthaṁ, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ. I relinquish it to the Sangha.’ … Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmīti …pe… the Sangha should give … dadeyyāti …pe… you should give … dadeyyunti …pe… ‘I give this robe back to you.’” āyasmato dammīti.

Permutations

If it is more than six days and he perceives it as more, and he is staying apart from it, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. Atirekachāratte atirekasaññī vippavasati, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. If it is more than six days, but he is unsure of it, and he is staying apart from it, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. Atirekachāratte vematiko vippavasati, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. If it is more than six days, but he perceives it as less, and he is staying apart from it, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. Atirekachāratte ūnakasaññī vippavasati, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.

If the determination has not been given up, but he perceives that it has … Appaccuddhaṭe paccuddhaṭasaññī …pe… If it has not been given away, but he perceives that it has … avissajjite vissajjitasaññī … If it has not been lost, but he perceives that it has … anaṭṭhe naṭṭhasaññī … If it has not been destroyed, but he perceives that it has … avinaṭṭhe vinaṭṭhasaññī … If it has not been burned, but he perceives that it has … adaḍḍhe daḍḍhasaññī … If it has not been stolen, but he perceives that it has, and he is staying apart from it, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. avilutte viluttasaññī vippavasati, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.

If he uses a robe that should be relinquished without first relinquishing it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Nissaggiyaṁ cīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is less than six days, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ūnakachāratte atirekasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is less than six days, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ūnakachāratte vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is less than six days and he perceives it as less, there is no offense. Ūnakachāratte ūnakasaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he stays apart from the robe for six days; chārattaṁ vippavasati, if he stays apart from the robe for less than six days; ūnakachārattaṁ vippavasati, if, after staying apart from it for six days, he stays overnight within the village zone and then leaves; chārattaṁ vippavasitvā puna gāmasīmaṁ okkamitvā vasitvā pakkamati, if within the six days he gives up the determination, or the robe has been given away, lost, destroyed, burned, stolen, or taken on trust; antochārattaṁ paccuddharati, vissajjeti, nassati, vinassati, ḍayhati, acchinditvā gaṇhanti, vissāsaṁ gaṇhanti, if he has the permission of the monks; bhikkhusammutiyā, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on what is risky, the ninth, is finished. Sāsaṅkasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.