Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Carrying wool too far

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, a certain monk was given wool as he was walking through the Kosalan country on his way to Sāvatthī. He bound it into a bundle with his upper robe and carried on. People who saw him teased him, “Venerable, how much did it cost you? How much will the profit be?” As a result he was humiliated.

2When he arrived at Sāvatthī, he threw the wool to the ground. The monks asked him why.

3“People have been teasing me because of this wool.”

4“But how far have you carried it?”

5“Over 40 kilometers.”

6The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How could a monk carry wool more than 40 kilometers?”

7After rebuking that monk in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monk, that you did this?”

8“It’s true, sir.”

9The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

10Final ruling
‘If wool is given to a monk who is traveling, he may receive it if he wishes. If he receives it and there is no one else to carry it, he may carry it himself for at most 40 kilometers. If he carries it further than that, even if there is no one else to carry it, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

11Definitions
To a monk who is traveling:

12to one who is walking on a road.

13If wool is given:

14if it is given by a sangha, by a group, by a relative, by a friend, or if it is discarded wool, or if he got it by means of his own property.

15If he wishes:

16if he desires, he may receive it.

17If he receives it, he may carry it himself for at most 40 kilometers:

18he may carry it himself a maximum of 40 kilometers.

19There is no one else to carry it:

20there is no other person who can carry it, either a woman or a man, either a householder or a monastic.

21If he carries it further than that, even if there is no one else to carry it:

22when he goes beyond 40 kilometers with the first foot, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When he goes beyond with the second foot, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If he stands within the 40 kilometer limit, but drops it beyond the 40 kilometer limit, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If he places it in the vehicle or among the goods of another without their knowledge, and it goes more than 40 kilometers, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

23The wool 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.)

24“Venerables, this wool, which I have taken more than 40 kilometers, is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.” … “the Sangha should give …” “you should give …” “I give this wool back to you.”

25Permutations
If he takes it more than 40 kilometers and he perceives it as more, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If he takes it more than 40 kilometers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If he takes it more than 40 kilometers, but he perceives it as less, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

26If he takes it less than 40 kilometers, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he takes it less than 40 kilometers, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he takes it less than 40 kilometers and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

27Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he carries it 40 kilometers; if he carries it less than 40 kilometers; if he carries it 40 kilometers and then carries it back; if he takes it 40 kilometers with the intention of staying there, but then takes it further; if he gets back what had been taken from him and then takes it further; if he gets back what he had given up and then takes it further; if he gets someone else to carry it; if it is a finished article; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

28The training rule on carrying wool too far, the sixth, is finished.