On extra robes

^Kd.8.13.6 Now at that time^[1] the group of six monks, saying: “Three robes are allowed by the Lord,” entered a village in one set of three robes, remained in the monastery in another set of three robes, went down to bathe in another set of three robes. Those who were modest monks looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: “How can the group of six monks wear an extra robe?” Then these monks told this matter to the Lord. Then the Lord, on this occasion, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:

“Monks, an extra robe should not be worn; whoever should wear (one) should be dealt with according to the rule.”^[2]

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^Kd.8.13.7 Now at that time^[3] an extra robe accrued to the venerable ^BD.4.412 Ānanda; and the venerable Ānanda wanted to give this robe to the venerable Sāriputta, but the venerable Sāriputta was staying at Sāketa. Then it occurred to the venerable Ānanda: “It is laid down^[4] by the Lord that an extra robe should not be worn. And this extra robe has accrued to me, and I want to give this robe to the venerable Sāriputta, but the venerable Sāriputta is staying at Sāketa. Now what line of conduct should be followed by me?” Then the venerable Ānanda told this matter to the Lord. He said:

“But how long, Ānanda, before Sāriputta will come (here)?”

“Lord, on the ninth or tenth day,” he said.

Then the Lord, on this occasion, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:

“I allow you, monks, to wear an extra robe for at most ten days.”^[5]

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^Kd.8.13.8 Now at that time an extra robe accrued to monks. Then it occurred to these monks: “Now what line of conduct should be followed in regard to an extra robe?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said:

“I allow you, monks, to assign an extra robe.”^[6]

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^Kd.8.14.1 Then the Lord, having stayed at Vesālī for as long as he found suitable, set out on tour for Benares. Walking on tour, in due course he arrived at Benares. The Lord stayed there near Benares in the deer-park at Isipatana. Now at that time a certain monk’s inner robe came to be torn. Then it occurred to that monk: “Three robes are allowed by the Lord: the double outer cloak, the single ^Vin.1.290 upper robe, the single inner robe. But my inner robe is torn. Suppose I were to insert a patch,^[7] so that it^[8] will be double cloth all round, single in the middle?”

^Kd.8.14.2 Then that monk inserted a patch. As the Lord was touring the lodgings he saw that monk inserting the patch; seeing ^BD.4.413 (him) he approached that monk, having approached, he spoke thus to that monk:

“What are you doing, monk?”

“I am inserting a patch, Lord.”

“It is very good, monk, it is good that you, monk, insert a patch.”

Then the Lord, on this occasion, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:

“I allow you, monks, when clothes^[9] are unsoiled,^[10] when what is allowable is unsoiled,^[11] a double outer cloak, a single upper robe, a single inner robe; when garments are thin from use^[12] a fourfold outer cloak, a double upper robe, a double inner robe. As far as possible an effort^[13] is to be made (to get patches) from a rag-robe, from (bits picked up near) a shop.^[14] I allow, monks, a patch, a means of fastening,^[15] a length,^[16] a marking (with a piece of cloth),^[17] a strengthening.”^[18]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

= Bu-NP.1, where also the rule against wearing an extra robe and the penalty for doing so are laid down.

[2]:

i.e. Bu-NP.1, suggesting that this, or at least the first draft of the rule, had been formulated by the time that this portion of the Vinaya was compiled.

[3]:

This paragraph = a portion of Bu-NP.1 (Vin.3.195).

[4]:

Vin.3.195 inserts sikkhāpadaṃ (a rule for training) before paññattaṃ (laid down).

[5]:

Cf. second draft of rule in Bu-NP.1, Vin.3.196.

[6]:

At Vin.3.196 an extra robe is defined as “one that is not allotted, not assigned”. Presumably if it is either allotted, or assigned, it ceases to be an extra robe. At Vin.1.297 the three robes (excluding any extra one) are allowed to be allotted but not assigned.

[7]:

aggaḷaṃ acchupeyyaṃ. On aggaḷa see BD.2.409, n.6.

[8]:

i.e. the robe.

[9]:

dussānam. DN-a.ii.403, citing this passage, reads vatthānaṃ (garments).

[10]:

ahata and ahatakappa, see above, BD.4.356, n.9, BD.4.357, n.1.

[11]:

ahata and ahatakappa, see above, BD.4.356, n.9, BD.4.357, n.1.

[12]:

utuddhaṭa, literally drawn out by the seasons.

[13]:

ussāha, explained at Vin-a.1128 by pariyesanā, search.

[14]:

pāpaṇika; see above, BD.4.357, n.4.

[15]:

tunna. Vin-a.1128 says suttakena saṃsibbanaṃ tunnaṃ, “sewing together with threads is tunna”; it is a means of fastening, hence perhaps a needle, although suci is the more usual word. Cf. however tunnavāya “needle-weaver”, tailor, at Vin.2.159.

[16]:

For these expressions cf. above BD.4.354, and notes.

[17]:

For these expressions cf. above BD.4.354, and notes.

[18]:

For these expressions cf. above BD.4.354, and notes.