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29. Storing a robe for more than six days in an inhabited area

Sāsaṅka

A monk who stores any of his three robes in an inhabited area for more than six days must relinquish the robe and confess the offense.

Translated by Bhikkhu Brahmali · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
  • 0.3NissaggiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on relinquishment
  • 0.4PattavaggaThe subchapter on almsbowls

0.529. SāsaṅkasikkhāpadaStoring a robe for more than six days in an inhabited area

1.1.0Origin story

1.1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū vutthavassā āraññakesu senāsanesu viharanti.At that time monks who had completed the rainy-season residence were staying in wilderness dwellings.1.1.3Kattikacorakā bhikkhū—Thieves who were active during the month of Kattika attacked those monks, thinking,1.1.4“laddhalābhā”ti paripātenti.“They have been given things.”

1.1.5Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.The monks told the Buddha.1.1.6Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

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

1.2.1PTS 3.263Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū—“bhagavatā anuññātaṁ āraññakesu senāsanesu viharantena tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitun”ti tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasanti.When they heard about this, monks stored one of their three robes in inhabited areas, staying apart from them for more than six days.1.2.2Tāni cīvarāni nassantipi vinassantipi ḍayhantipi undūrehipi khajjanti.The robes were lost, destroyed, burned, and eaten by rats.1.2.3Bhikkhū duccoḷā honti lūkhacīvarā.As a consequence, those monks became poorly dressed.1.2.4Bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu—Other monks asked them why,1.2.5“kissa tumhe, āvuso, duccoḷā lūkhacīvarā”ti?1.2.6Atha kho te bhikkhū bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.and they told them what had happened.1.2.7Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,1.2.8“kathañhi nāma bhikkhū tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasissantī”ti.“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?”

1.2.9Atha kho te bhikkhū te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:1.2.10“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasantī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?”

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

1.2.12Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.2.13kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ antaraghare nikkhipitvā atirekachārattaṁ vippavasissanti.“How could those foolish men do this?1.2.14Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.2.15evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.2.16.0Final ruling

1.2.16.1“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.‘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.1.2.17Chārattaparamaṁ tena bhikkhunā tena cīvarena vippavasitabbaṁ. Tato ce uttari vippavaseyya, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.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.’”

2.0Definitions

2.1Upavassaṁ kho panātiAfter observing:
2.2vuṭṭhavassānaṁ.after completing the rainy season.
2.3KattikapuṇṇamantiThe Kattika full moon that ends the rainy season:
2.4kattikacātumāsinī vuccati.the fourth full moon of the rainy season in the month of Kattika is what is meant.
2.5Yāni kho pana tāni āraññakāni senāsanānītiThere are wilderness dwellings:
2.6āraññakaṁ nāma senāsanaṁa wilderness dwelling:2.7pañcadhanusatikaṁ pacchimaṁ.it is at least 800 meters away from any inhabited area.1
2.8Sāsaṅkaṁ nāmaRisky:
2.9ārāme ārāmūpacāre corānaṁ niviṭṭhokāso dissati, bhuttokāso dissati, ṭhitokāso dissati, nisinnokāso dissati, nipannokāso dissati.in the monastery, or in the vicinity of the monastery, thieves have been seen camping, eating, standing, sitting, or lying down.
2.10Sappaṭibhayaṁ nāmaDangerous:
2.11ārāme ārāmūpacāre corehi manussā hatā dissanti, viluttā dissanti, ākoṭitā dissanti.in the monastery, or in the vicinity of the monastery, thieves have been seen injuring, robbing, or beating people.
2.12Tathārūpesu bhikkhu senāsanesu viharantotiA monk who is staying in such a dwelling:
2.13evarūpesu bhikkhu senāsanesu viharanto.a monk who is staying in that kind of dwelling.
2.14PTS 3.264ĀkaṅkhamānotiIf he so desires:
2.15icchamāno.if he so wishes.
2.16Tiṇṇaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvarantiOne of his three robes:
2.17saṅghāṭiṁ vā uttarāsaṅgaṁ vā antaravāsakaṁ vā.the outer robe, the upper robe, or the sarong.
2.18Antaraghare nikkhipeyyātiMay store in an inhabited area:
2.19samantā gocaragāme nikkhipeyya.may store it anywhere in his alms village.
2.20Siyā ca tassa bhikkhuno kocideva paccayo tena cīvarena vippavāsāyātiSo long as he has a reason for staying apart from that robe:
2.21siyā paccayo siyā karaṇīyaṁ.if there is a reason, if there is something to be done.
2.22Chārattaparamaṁ tena bhikkhunā tena cīvarena vippavasitabbantiHe should stay apart from that robe for six days at the most:
2.23chārattaparamatā vippavasitabbaṁ.he should stay apart from it for six days at a maximum.
2.24Aññatra bhikkhusammutiyātiExcept if the monks have agreed:
2.25ṭhapetvā bhikkhusammutiṁ.unless the monks have agreed.
2.26Tato ce uttari vippavaseyyātiIf he stays apart from it longer than that:
2.27sattame aruṇuggamane nissaggiyaṁ hoti.the robe becomes subject to relinquishment at dawn on the seventh day.

2.28Nissajjitabbaṁ saṅghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā.The robe should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual.2.29Evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṁ.“And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. …”2.30…pe…(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.)

2.31idaṁ me, bhante, cīvaraṁ atirekachārattaṁ vippavutthaṁ, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ.“Venerables, this robe, which I have stayed apart from for more than six days without the agreement of the monks, is to be relinquished.2.32Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmīti …pe…I relinquish it to the Sangha.” …2.33dadeyyāti …pe…“the Sangha should give …”2.34dadeyyunti …pe…“you should give …”2.35āyasmato dammīti.“I give this robe back to you.”

2.36.0Permutations

2.36.1Atirekachāratte atirekasaññī vippavasati, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.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.2.37Atirekachāratte vematiko 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.2.38Atirekachāratte ūnakasaññī 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.

2.39Appaccuddhaṭe paccuddhaṭasaññī …pe…If the determination has not been given up, but he perceives that it has …2.40avissajjite vissajjitasaññī …If it has not been given away, but he perceives that it has …2.41anaṭṭhe naṭṭhasaññī …If it has not been lost, but he perceives that it has …2.42avinaṭṭhe vinaṭṭhasaññī …If it has not been destroyed, but he perceives that it has …2.43adaḍḍhe daḍḍhasaññī …If it has not been burned, but he perceives that it has …2.44avilutte viluttasaññī vippavasati, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.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.

2.45Nissaggiyaṁ cīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he uses a robe that should be relinquished without first relinquishing it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.46Ūnakachāratte atirekasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is less than six days, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.47Ūnakachāratte vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is less than six days, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.48Ūnakachāratte ūnakasaññī, anāpatti.If it is less than six days and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

2.49.0Non-offenses

2.49.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.50chārattaṁ vippavasati,if he stays apart from the robe for six days;2.51ūnakachārattaṁ vippavasati,if he stays apart from the robe for less than six days;2.52chārattaṁ vippavasitvā puna gāmasīmaṁ okkamitvā vasitvā pakkamati,if, after staying apart from it for six days, he stays overnight within the village zone and then leaves;22.53antochārattaṁ paccuddharati, vissajjeti, nassati, vinassati, ḍayhati, acchinditvā gaṇhanti, vissāsaṁ gaṇhanti,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;32.54bhikkhusammutiyā,if he has the permission of the monks;2.55ummattakassa,if he is insane;2.56ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

2.57Sāsaṅkasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.The training rule on storing a robe for more than six days in an inhabited area, the ninth, is finished.

Translator’s notes

  1. That is, five hundred bow-lengths. For further discussion of the dhanu, see sugata in Appendix of Technical Terms.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-np29:2.7

  2. “Zone” renders sīmā. See Appendix of Technical Terms for discussion.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-np29:2.52

  3. “Taken on trust” refers to a situation where you have an agreement with a close friend that you may take their belongings on trust. The conditions for taking on trust are set out at Kd 8:19.1.5.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-np29:2.53