BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

The Silk Chapter Chapter 7.2As in the preceding rules, making a felt blanket/rug that is more than one-half blackwool for another person's use entails a dukkaṭa; and if one obtains a feltblanket/rug that is more than one-half black wool made by another — not at one'sinstigation — then using it entails a dukkaṭa as well (§).Non-offenses. The Vibhaṅga states that there is no offense if the rug is one-quarteror more white wool, one-quarter or more brown wool, or made entirely of whitewool or of brown. The Sub-commentary here reiterates that the important point isthat the rug be no more than one-half black wool. There is also no offense in feltthat is more than one-half black wool if one is making the felt — or having it made— for a canopy, a floor-covering, a wall screen, a mattress/cushion, or a kneelingmat.Summary: Making a felt blanket/rug that is more than one-half black wool for one'sown use — or having it made — is a nissaggiya pācittiya offense.14. When a bhikkhu has had a new felt (blanket/rug) made, he is tokeep it for (at least) six years. If after less than six years he shouldhave another new felt (blanket/rug) made, regardless of whether ornot he has disposed of the first, then — unless he has beenauthorized by the bhikkhus — it is to be forfeited and confessed."Now at that time bhikkhus were (each) having a new felt blanket/rug made everyyear. They were constantly begging, constantly hinting, 'Give wool. We need wool.'People criticized and complained and spread it about, 'How can these Sakyan-sonmonks have a new felt blanket/rug made every year?... The felt blanket/rugs wemake for ourselves last five or six years, even though our children wet them and soilthem, and they get chewed on by rats. But these Sakyan-son monks have a newfelt blanket/rug made every year and are constantly begging, constantly hinting,'Give wool. We need wool.'"There are three factors for an offense here.1) Object: a new felt blanket/rug for one's own use.2) Effort: One makes it or has it made less than six years after one's lastone was made, even though one has not been formally authorized by thebhikkhus to do so.3) Result: One acquires the rug when it is finished.The texts are silent on the factor of perception here, which suggests that if abhikkhu miscounts the passage of years — making a new rug when six yearshaven't passed even though he thinks they have — he fulfills the factor of effort allthe same.According to the Vibhaṅga, there is a dukkaṭa in the effort of making the rug orhaving it made. Once it is obtained (or finished, if one is making it oneself), it is to185