BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1Rains, then after the end of the robe season, it can be kept — without determining itor placing it under shared ownership — for an additional five days; if it is notenough to make a robe, it can be kept for up to an additional 25. Robe-clothoffered in urgency, however — as the Vibhaṅga makes clear — carries a life-spanthat cannot extend past the end of the robe season. Thus, on receiving such a giftof cloth, one should mark it as such before putting it away so as not to forget itsstatus when the end of the robe season approaches.The factors for an offense here are two: object — robe-cloth offered in urgency;and effort — one keeps it past the end of the robe season: the dawnrise after thefull moon one month after the end of the first Rains-residence if one does notparticipate in a kaṭhina, or the end of one's kaṭhina privileges if one does.Perception is not a mitigating factor here. Thus the Vibhaṅga states that if, at theend of the robe season, one perceives a piece of robe-cloth offered in urgency assomething else — say, as ordinary out-of-season cloth — and keeps it for theamount of time allowed for ordinary out-of-season cloth under NP 3, one commitsthe full offense all the same. The same penalty holds if the cloth has not beendetermined or placed under shared ownership and yet one keeps it past the end ofthe robe season, perceiving that it has.As for robe-cloth that has not been offered in urgency, if one perceives it as havingbeen offered in urgency or is in doubt about the matter, the penalty is a dukkaṭa.Arguing from the Commentary's explanation of the similar situation discussed underNP 1, the dukkaṭa here would be for using the cloth without having forfeited it afterthe robe season is ended.The procedures for forfeiture, confession, and return of the cloth are the same asunder NP 1. See Appendix VI for the Pali formula to use in forfeiting the cloth.Non-offenses. There is no offense if, before the robe season is over, onedetermines the cloth, places it under shared ownership, or abandons it (gives itaway or throws it away); if it is lost, destroyed, burnt, or snatched away; or ifsomeone else takes it on trust.Summary: Keeping robe-cloth offered in urgency past the end of the robe seasonafter having accepted it during the last eleven days of the Rains-residence is anissaggiya pācittiya offense.29. There are wilderness lodgings that are considered dubious andrisky. A bhikkhu living in such lodgings after having observed theKattika full moon may keep any one of his three robes in a village if heso desires. Should he have any reason to live apart from the robe, hemay do so for six nights at most. If he should live apart from itbeyond that — unless authorized by the bhikkhus — it is to beforfeited and confessed.224