Bu Np 14

14. Chabbassasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti. Te yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti— “eḷakalomāni detha. Eḷakalomehi attho”ti. Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti. 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. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”ti. Atha kho te bhikkhū te anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpenti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma te, bhikkhave, moghapurisā anuvassaṁ santhataṁ kārāpessanti, yācanabahulā viññattibahulā viharissanti— ‘eḷakalomāni detha, eḷakalomehi attho’ti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Keeping a new blanket less than six years Origin story First substory

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time monks were having blankets made every year. They kept on begging and asking, “Please give wool! We need wool!” People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics have blankets made every year, begging and asking, ‘Please give wool! We need wool!’? We only make blankets for ourselves every five or six years, even though our children defecate and urinate on them and they’re eaten by rats.” The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can those monks do this?” After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that there are monks who do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them, “How can those foolish men do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabbaṁ.

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years.

Orena ce channaṁ vassānaṁ taṁ santhataṁ vissajjetvā vā avissajjetvā vā aññaṁ navaṁ santhataṁ kārāpeyya, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

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.’” In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu kosambiyaṁ gilāno hoti. Ñātakā tassa bhikkhuno santike dūtaṁ pāhesuṁ— “āgacchatu bhadanto mayaṁ upaṭṭhahissāmā”ti. Bhikkhūpi evamāhaṁsu— “gacchāvuso, ñātakā taṁ upaṭṭhahissantī”ti. So evamāha— “bhagavatā, āvuso, sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ— ‘navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabban’ti. Ahañcamhi gilāno, na sakkomi santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ. Mayhañca vinā santhatā na phāsu hoti. Nāhaṁ gamissāmī”ti. Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṁ dātuṁ. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā. Tena gilānena bhikkhunā saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā vuḍḍhānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo— ‘ahaṁ, bhante, gilāno na sakkomi santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ. Sohaṁ, bhante, saṅghaṁ santhatasammutiṁ yācāmī’ti. Dutiyampi yācitabbā. Tatiyampi yācitabbā. Byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo— ‘Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho. Ayaṁ itthannāmo bhikkhu gilāno na sakkoti santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ. So saṅghaṁ santhatasammutiṁ yācati. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṁ dadeyya. Esā ñatti. Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho. Ayaṁ itthannāmo bhikkhu gilāno na sakkoti santhataṁ ādāya pakkamituṁ. So saṅghaṁ santhatasammutiṁ yācati. Saṅgho itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiṁ deti. Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammutiyā dānaṁ, so tuṇhassa; yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya. Dinnā saṅghena itthannāmassa bhikkhuno santhatasammuti. Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’ti. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Second substory

At one time a certain monk at Kosambī was sick. His relatives sent him a message, saying, “Come, venerable, we’ll nurse you.” The monks urged him to go, but he said, “The Buddha has laid down a training rule that a monk who has had a new blanket made must keep it for six years. Now because I’m sick, I’m unable to travel with my blanket. And because I’m not comfortable without it, I can’t go.” They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to give permission to a sick monk to make a blanket. And it should be given like this. 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, ‘Venerables, I’m sick. I’m unable to travel with my blanket. I ask the Sangha for permission to make a blanket.’ And he should ask a second and a third time. A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha: ‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The monk so-and-so is sick. He’s unable to travel with his blanket. He’s asking the Sangha for permission to make a blanket. If the Sangha is ready, it should give permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket. This is the motion. Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The monk so-and-so is sick. He’s unable to travel with his blanket. He’s asking the Sangha for permission to make a blanket. The Sangha gives permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket. Any monk who approves of giving permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket should remain silent. Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up. The Sangha has given permission to monk so-and-so to make a blanket. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’ And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Navaṁ pana bhikkhunā santhataṁ kārāpetvā chabbassāni dhāretabbaṁ.

Final ruling

‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years.

Orena ce channaṁ vassānaṁ taṁ santhataṁ vissajjetvā vā avissajjetvā vā aññaṁ navaṁ santhataṁ kārāpeyya, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyan”ti.

Whether that blanket has been given away or not, if he has another new blanket made in less than six years, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Navaṁ nāma karaṇaṁ upādāya vuccati. Santhataṁ nāma santharitvā kataṁ hoti avāyimaṁ. Kārāpetvāti karitvā vā kārāpetvā vā. Chabbassāni dhāretabbanti chabbassaparamatā dhāretabbaṁ. Orena ce channaṁ vassānanti ūnakachabbassāni. Taṁ santhataṁ vissajjetvāti aññesaṁ datvā. Avissajjetvāti na kassaci datvā. Aññatra bhikkhusammutiyāti ṭhapetvā bhikkhusammutiṁ aññaṁ navaṁ santhataṁ karoti vā kārāpeti vā, payoge dukkaṭaṁ. Paṭilābhena nissaggiyaṁ hoti. Nissajjitabbaṁ saṅghassa vā gaṇassa vā puggalassa vā. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, nissajjitabbaṁ. …pe… “idaṁ me, bhante, santhataṁ ūnakachabbassāni kārāpitaṁ, aññatra bhikkhusammutiyā, nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmī”ti …pe… dadeyyāti …pe… dadeyyunti …pe… āyasmato dammīti.

Definitions

New: newly made is what is meant. A blanket: it is made by strewing, not by weaving. Has had made: has made or has had made. He should keep it for six years: he should keep it for six years at a minimum. In less than six years: fewer than six years. That blanket has been given away: it has been given to others. Not: it has not been given to anyone. Except if the monks have agreed: if he makes another new blanket, or has one made, unless the monks have agreed, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When he gets the blanket, it becomes subject to relinquishment. The blanket should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual. “And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. …” (To be expanded as in Bu NP 1:3.2.5–3.2.29, with appropriate substitutions.) “Venerables, this blanket, which I got made after less than six years without the agreement of the monks, is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.” … “the Sangha should give …” “you should give …” “I give this blanket back to you.”

Attanā vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.

Permutations

If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Attanā vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. Parehi vippakataṁ attanā pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ. Parehi vippakataṁ parehi pariyosāpeti, nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ.

If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Anāpatti—

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

chabbassāni karoti, atirekachabbassāni karoti, aññassatthāya karoti vā kārāpeti vā, aññena kataṁ paṭilabhitvā paribhuñjati, vitānaṁ vā bhūmattharaṇaṁ vā sāṇipākāraṁ vā bhisiṁ vā bibbohanaṁ vā karoti, bhikkhusammutiyā, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

if he makes one after six years; if he makes one after more than six years; if he makes one, or has one made, for the sake of another; if he gets what was made by another and then uses it; if he makes a canopy, a floor cover, a cloth screen, a mattress, or a pillow; if he has the permission of the monks; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.