Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Accepting too many robes

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the monks from the group of six said to the monks whose robes had been stolen, “The Buddha has allowed a monk whose robes have been stolen or lost to ask an unrelated householder for a robe. You should ask for a robe.”

2“It’s not necessary. We’ve already gotten robes.”

3“We’ll ask for you.”

4“Do as you please.”

5The monks from the group of six then went to householders and said, “Monks have arrived whose robes have been stolen. Please give them robes.” And they asked for many robes.

6Soon afterwards in the public meeting hall a certain man said to another, “Sir, monks have arrived whose robes have been stolen. I’ve given them robes.”

7The other replied, “So have I.” And another said the same.

8They complained and criticized those monks, “How can the Sakyan monastics ask for many robes without moderation? Are they going to trade in cloth or set up shop?”

9The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How could the monks from the group of six ask for many robes without moderation?”

10After 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 you did this?”

11“It’s true, sir.”

12The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

13Final ruling
‘If an unrelated male or female householder invites that monk to take many robes, he should accept at most one sarong and one upper robe. If he accepts more than that, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

14Definitions
That monk:

15the monk whose robes have been stolen.

16Unrelated:

17anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back eight generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side.

18A male householder:

19any man who lives at home.

20A female householder:

21any woman who lives at home.

22Many robes:

23a lot of robes.

24Invites to take:

25saying, “Take as many as you like.”

26He should accept at most one sarong and one upper robe:

27if three robes are lost, he should accept two; if two robes are lost, he should accept one; if one robe is lost, he should not accept any.

28If he accepts more than that:

29if he asks for more than that, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When he gets the robe, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

30The robe should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual. “And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. …” (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.)

31“Venerables, this robe, which I received after asking an unrelated householder for too many, is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.” … “the Sangha should give …” “you should give …” “I give this robe back to you.”

32Permutations
If the person is unrelated and the monk perceives them as such, and he asks them for too many robes, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If the person is unrelated, but the monk is unsure of it, and he asks them for too many robes, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If the person is unrelated, but the monk perceives them as related, and he asks them for too many robes, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

33If the person is related, but the monk perceives them as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the person is related, but the monk is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the person is related and the monk perceives them as such, there is no offense.

34Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he takes too much, but with the intention of returning the remainder; if they give, saying, “The remainder is for you;” if they give, but not because his robes were stolen; if they give, but not because his robes were lost; if it is from relatives; if it is from those who have given an invitation; if it is by means of his own property; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

35The training rule on accepting too many robes, the seventh, is finished.