Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Requesting a fine robe from a fund

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, a certain man said to his wife, “I’m going to give robe-cloth to Venerable Upananda.”

2An alms-collecting monk heard that man making that statement. He then went to Upananda the Sakyan and said, “Upananda, you have much merit. In such-and-such a place I heard a man tell his wife that he’s going to give you robe-cloth.”

3“He’s my supporter.”

4Upananda then went to that man and said, “Is it true that you want to give me robe-cloth?”

5“Yes, that’s just what I was thinking.”

6“If that’s the case, give me such-and-such robe-cloth. For what’s the point of giving robe-cloth that I won’t use?”

7That man complained and criticized him, “These Sakyan monastics have great desires. They’re not content. It’s no easy matter to give them robe-cloth. How could Venerable Upananda come to me and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited by me to do so?”

8The monks heard the complaints of that man, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How could Venerable Upananda go to a householder and say what kind of robe-cloth he wants without first being invited to do so?”

9After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Upananda: “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?”

10“It’s true, sir.”

11“Is he a relative of yours?”

12“No.”

13“Foolish man, people who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s good and bad, in dealing with each other. And still you did this. This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

14Final ruling
‘If a male or female householder has set aside a robe fund for an unrelated monk, thinking, “With this robe fund I will buy robe-cloth and give it to monk so-and-so;” and if that monk, without first being invited, goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, saying, “Please use this robe fund to buy such-and-such robe-cloth and then give it to me,” and he does so because he wants something fine, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

15Definitions
For a monk:

16for the benefit of a monk; making a monk the object of consideration, one wants to give to him.

17Unrelated:

18anyone 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.

19A male householder:

20any man who lives at home.

21A female householder:

22any woman who lives at home.

23A robe fund:

24money, gold, a pearl, a gem, a coral, a crystal, cloth, thread, or cotton wool.

25With this robe fund:

26with that which is at one’s disposal.

27I will buy:

28having traded.

29I will give:

30I will donate.

31If that monk:

32the monk the robe fund has been set aside for.

33Without first being invited:

34he or she has not said beforehand: “Venerable, what kind of robe-cloth do you need? What kind of robe-cloth can I buy for you?”

35Goes to them:

36having gone to their house or having gone wherever.

37Specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants:

38please make it long or wide or closely woven or soft.

39This robe fund:

40that which is at one’s disposal.

41Such-and-such:

42long or wide or closely woven or soft.

43To buy:

44having traded.

45Give:

46donate.

47Because he wants something fine:

48wanting something good, wanting something expensive.

49If that householder buys robe-cloth that is long, wide, closely woven, or soft because of the monk’s statement, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When he gets the robe-cloth, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

50The robe-cloth 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.)

51“Venerables, this robe-cloth, which I received after going to an unrelated householder and saying what kind of robe-cloth I wanted without first being invited, is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.” … “the Sangha should give …” “you should give …” “I give this robe-cloth back to you.”

52Permutations
If the householder is unrelated and the monk perceives them as such, and, without first being invited, he goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If the householder is unrelated, but the monk is unsure of it, and, without first being invited, he goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If the householder is unrelated, but the monk perceives them as related, and, without first being invited, he goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth he wants, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

53If the householder is related, but the monk perceives them as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the householder is related, but the monk is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the householder is related and the monk perceives them as such, there is no offense.

54Non-offenses
There is no offense: if it is from relatives; if it is from those who have given an invitation; if it is for the benefit of another; if it is by means of his own property; if the householder wishes to buy something expensive, but the monk has them buy something inexpensive; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

55The training rule on requesting a fine robe from a fund, the eighth, is finished.