BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

The Bowl Chapter Chapter 7.3Bhikkhus in the time of the Buddha commonly bathed in a river or lake. Passages inthe Canon tell of some of the dangers involved: They had to watch over their robesto make sure they weren't stolen or washed away by the river, and at the same timemake sure they didn't expose themselves. (SN II.10 tells of a female deva who,seeing a young bhikkhu bathing, became smitten with the sight of him wearing onlyhis lower robe. She appeared to him, suggesting that he leave the monkhood totake his fill of sensual pleasures before his youth had passed, but fortunately hewas far enough in the practice to resist her advances.) A further danger during therainy season was that the rivers would become swollen and their currents strong.During this time, then, bhikkhus would bathe in the rain.Rains-bathing cloth. Mv.VIII.15.1-7 tells the story of a servant girl who went to amonastery and — seeing bhikkhus out bathing naked in the rain — concluded thatthere were no bhikkhus there, but only naked ascetics. She returned to tell hermistress, Lady Visākhā, who realized what was actually happening and made thisthe occasion to ask permission of the Buddha to provide rains-bathing cloths forthe bhikkhus, because as she put it, "Nakedness is repulsive." He granted herrequest, and at a later point (Mv.VIII.20.2) stated that a rains-bathing cloth could bedetermined for use during the four months of the rainy season — beginning with theday after the full moon in July, or the second if there are two — and that at the endof the four months it was to be placed under shared ownership. This training ruledeals with the protocol for seeking and using such a cloth during the rains and theperiod immediately preceding them.The protocol as sketched out in the Vibhaṅga — together with details from theCommentary in parentheses and my own comments in brackets — is as follows:During the first two weeks of the fourth lunar month of the hot season — [the lunarcycle ending with the full moon in July, or the first full moon if there are two] — abhikkhu may seek a rains-bathing cloth and make it (if he gets enough material).(However, he may not yet use it or determine it for use because it may bedetermined for use only during the four months of the rainy season — [seeMv.VIII.20.2].)In seeking the cloth he may directly ask for it from relatives or people who haveinvited him to ask, or he may approach people who have provided rains-bathingcloths in the past and give them such hints as: "It is the time for material for arains-bathing cloth," or "People are giving material for a rains-bathing cloth." Asunder NP 10, he may not say, "Give me material for a rains-bathing cloth," or "Getme..." or "Exchange for me ..." or "Buy me material for a rains-bathing cloth." (If heasks directly from people who are not relatives or who have not invited him to ask,he incurs a dukkaṭa; if he then receives cloth from them, he incurs the full penaltyunder NP 6. If he gives hints to people who have never provided rains-bathingcloths in the past, he incurs a dukkaṭa [which the Commentary assigns on thegeneral principle of breaking a duty].)During the last two weeks of the fourth lunar month of the hot season he may nowbegin using his cloth (although he may not yet determine it for use). [This showsclearly that this rule is providing an exemption to NP 1, under which he otherwisewould be forced to determine the cloth within ten days after receiving it.] (If he has215