Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Keeping a new blanket less than six years

1First 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.”

2The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can those monks do this?”

3After 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?”

4“It’s true, sir.”

5The 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:

6Preliminary ruling
‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years. 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.’”

7In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

8Second 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.”

9They told the Buddha.

10Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

11“Monks, I allow you to give permission to a sick monk to make a blanket.

12And 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:

13‘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.

14Please, 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.

15The 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.’

16And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

17Final ruling
‘If a monk has had a new blanket made, he should keep it for six years. 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.’”

18Definitions
New:

19newly made is what is meant.

20A blanket:

21it is made by strewing, not by weaving.

22Has had made:

23has made or has had made.

24He should keep it for six years:

25he should keep it for six years at a minimum.

26In less than six years:

27fewer than six years.

28That blanket has been given away:

29it has been given to others.

30Not:

31it has not been given to anyone.

32Except if the monks have agreed:

33if 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.

34The 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 <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.)

35“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.”

36Permutations
If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. 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.

37Non-offenses
There is no offense: 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.

38The training rule on keeping a new blanket less than six years, the fourth, is finished.