- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on precious things Ratanavagga
91. The training rule on the rainy-season robe 91. Vassikasāṭikāsikkhāpada
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. he allowed rainy-season robes for the monks. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ vassikasāṭikā anuññātā hoti. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū—Knowing this, the monks from the group of six wore rainy-season robes that were inappropriate in size. “bhagavatā vassikasāṭikā anuññātā”ti appamāṇikāyo vassikasāṭikāyo dhārenti. As they were walking about, they were dragging them along, both in front and behind. Puratopi pacchatopi ākaḍḍhantā āhiṇḍanti.
The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the monks from the group of six wear such rainy-season robes?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū appamāṇikāyo vassikasāṭikāyo dhāressantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, appamāṇikāyo vassikasāṭikāyo dhārethā”ti?
“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, appamāṇikāyo vassikasāṭikāyo dhāressatha. 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—
Final ruling
‘If a monk is having a rainy-season robe made, it should be made the right size. “Vassikasāṭikaṁ pana bhikkhunā kārayamānena pamāṇikā kāretabbā. This is the right size: six standard handspans long and two-and-a-half wide. Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ—dīghaso cha vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ aḍḍhateyyā. If it exceeds that, it is to be cut down, and he commits an offense entailing confession.’” Taṁ atikkāmayato chedanakaṁ pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A rainy-season robe: Vassikasāṭikā nāma
- it is for use during the four months of the rainy season. vassānassa catumāsatthāya.
- Is having made: Kārayamānenāti
- making it himself or having it made, it should be made to the right size. karonto vā kārāpento vā. Pamāṇikā kāretabbā. This is the right size: six standard handspans long and two and a half wide. Tatridaṁ pamāṇaṁ— dīghaso cha vidatthiyo, sugatavidatthiyā; tiriyaṁ aḍḍhateyyā. If he makes one or has one made that exceeds that, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. Taṁ atikkāmetvā karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṁ. When he gets it, it is to be cut down, and he is then to confess an offense entailing confession. Paṭilābhena chinditvā pācittiyaṁ desetabbaṁ.
Permutations
If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. Attanā vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. Attanā vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. Parehi vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. Parehi vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If he gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he makes it the right size; pamāṇikaṁ karoti, if he makes it smaller than the right size; ūnakaṁ karoti, if he gets one made by another that exceeds the right size and then cuts it down before using it; aññena kataṁ pamāṇātikkantaṁ paṭilabhitvā chinditvā paribhuñjati, if he makes a canopy, a floor cover, a cloth screen, a mattress, or a pillow; vitānaṁ vā bhūmattharaṇaṁ vā sāṇipākāraṁ vā bhisiṁ vā bibbohanaṁ vā karoti, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on the rainy-season robe, the ninth, is finished. Vassikasāṭikāsikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.