English
7. The Chapter on Kathina 187. The Permission for Kathina 306. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying at Savatthi, in Anathapindika’s monastery in Jeta’s Grove. At that time, about thirty monks from Paveyya, all forest dwellers, all alms-round practitioners, all rag-robe wearers, all three-robe wearers, were coming to Savatthi to see the Blessed One. As the rainy season retreat was approaching, they were unable to reach Savatthi to observe the retreat; they entered the retreat in Saketa, on the way. They stayed the retreat feeling discontented, thinking: “The Blessed One lives near us, only six yojanas from here, and yet we cannot see the Blessed One.” Then, after those monks had completed the retreat, after the Pavarana ceremony was held at the end of three months, as it was raining, with water collected and muddy, with their robes heavy with water, feeling weary, they approached the Blessed One at Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, in Anathapindika’s monastery. Having approached, they bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. It was customary for the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, to exchange greetings with arriving monks. Then the Blessed One said to those monks: “I hope, monks, you are well, I hope you are getting by, I hope you lived the retreat in harmony, cheerfully, without dispute, comfortably, and were not troubled by alms-food?” “We are well, Blessed One; we are getting by, Blessed One; and we, Venerable Sir, lived the retreat in harmony, cheerfully, without dispute, and were not troubled by alms-food. Here, Venerable Sir, we, about thirty monks from Paveyya, were coming to Savatthi to see the Blessed One. As the rainy season retreat was approaching, we were unable to reach Savatthi to observe the retreat; we entered the retreat in Saketa, on the way. We, Venerable Sir, stayed the retreat feeling discontented, thinking: ‘The Blessed One lives near us, only six yojanas from here, and yet we cannot see the Blessed One.’” to see him. And then we, venerable sir, having completed the rains retreat, after three months, having performed the Pavāraṇā, with the sky raining, in collected water, in mud, with robes heavy with water, exhausted, have come a long way. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the bhikkhus: "I allow, bhikkhus, for bhikkhus who have completed the rains retreat, to spread the Kathina. For you, bhikkhus, who have spread the Kathina, five things are allowed: going without prior invitation, going without taking leave, group meals, as many robes as needed, and whatever robe material arises there, that will be theirs. For you, bhikkhus, who have spread the Kathina, these five things are allowed. And thus, bhikkhus, the Kathina should be spread. By a competent and capable bhikkhu, the Saṅgha should be informed: "May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, hear me. This Kathina cloth has arisen for the Saṅgha. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, may the Saṅgha give this Kathina cloth to the bhikkhu named so-and-so to spread the Kathina. This is the motion." "May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, hear me. This Kathina cloth has arisen for the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha gives this Kathina cloth to the bhikkhu named so-and-so to spread the Kathina. To whichever venerable one it is agreeable that this Kathina cloth be given to the bhikkhu named so-and-so to spread the Kathina, let him be silent; to whom it is not agreeable, let him speak." "This Kathina cloth has been given by the Saṅgha to the bhikkhu named so-and-so to spread the Kathina. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent, I hold it thus." "Thus, bhikkhus, the Kathina is spread, and thus it is not spread. And how, bhikkhus, is the Kathina not spread? The Kathina is not spread merely by scratching, the Kathina is not spread merely by washing, the Kathina is not spread merely by examining the robe, not merely by cutting... By that, the Kathina is spread. The Kathina is not spread merely by binding. The Kathina is not spread merely by turning it over. The Kathina is not spread merely by rubbing. The Kathina is not spread merely by making it firm. The Kathina is not spread merely by following the warp. The Kathina is not spread merely by equipping it. The Kathina is not spread merely by adding to it. The Kathina is not spread merely by pressing a blanket. The Kathina is not spread if it is marked. The Kathina is not spread if it is discussed beforehand. The Kathina is not spread if it is done with regret. The Kathina is not spread if it is stored up. The Kathina is not spread if it is liable to forfeiture. The Kathina is not spread if it is not allowable. The Kathina is not spread if it is other than a double robe. The Kathina is not spread if it is other than an upper robe. The Kathina is not spread if it is other than an under robe. The Kathina is not spread if it is other than a five-piece or more-than-five-piece robe, cut and rounded on that very day. The Kathina is not spread if it is other than the spreading for an individual. Even if the Kathina is rightly spread, if one outside the boundary approves it, even so the Kathina is not spread. Thus, monks, the Kathina is not spread. 309. And how, monks, is the Kathina spread? The Kathina is spread if it is new. The Kathina is spread if it is like new. The Kathina is spread if it is from rags. The Kathina is spread if it is from a dust-heap. The Kathina is spread if it is from a shop. The Kathina is spread if it is unmarked. The Kathina is spread if it is not discussed beforehand. The Kathina is spread if it is not done with regret. The Kathina is spread if it is not stored up. The Kathina is spread if it is not liable to forfeiture. Kathina is spread with a prepared robe, Kathina is spread with a double robe, Kathina is spread with an upper robe, Kathina is spread with an inner robe, Kathina is spread with a robe of five or more pieces, cut and rounded on the same day, Kathina is spread by the one who spreads it; If Kathina is spread correctly, And if one within the boundary approves it, Then Kathina is spread. Thus, bhikkhus, Kathina is spread. 310. "And how, bhikkhus, is Kathina lifted? Bhikkhus, these are the eight ways for Kathina to be lifted – by departure, by completion, by resolution, by destruction, by hearing, by cutting off hope, by crossing the boundary, by joint lifting." The permission for Kathina is concluded. 188. The Seven by Taking 311. A bhikkhu who has spread Kathina takes a finished robe and departs – "I will not return." For that bhikkhu, the Kathina is lifted by departure. A bhikkhu who has spread Kathina takes a robe and departs. When he is outside the boundary, it occurs to him – "I will make this robe right here, I will not return." He makes that robe. For that bhikkhu, the Kathina is lifted by completion. A bhikkhu who has spread Kathina takes a robe and departs. When he is outside the boundary, it occurs to him – "I will not make this robe, I will not return." For that bhikkhu, the Kathina is lifted by resolution. A bhikkhu who has spread Kathina takes a robe and departs. When he is outside the boundary, it occurs to him – "I will make this robe right here, I will not return." He makes that robe. While that robe is being made, it is destroyed. For that bhikkhu, the Kathina is lifted by destruction. A bhikkhu who has spread Kathina takes a robe and departs – "I will return." Having gone outside the boundary, he makes that robe. Having made the robe, he hears, "Indeed, that in that dwelling the kathina has been lifted." For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of hearing. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, taking a robe, departs – "I will go back." He, having gone outside the boundary, makes that robe. He, having made the robe – "I will go back, I will go back" – passes the kathina lifting outside. For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of crossing the boundary. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, taking a robe, departs – "I will go back." He, having gone outside the boundary, makes that robe. He, having made the robe – "I will go back, I will go back" – meets the kathina lifting. For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted together with the bhikkhus. The section on 'taking' is finished. 189. The section on 'receiving'. 312. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, receiving a made robe, departs – "I will not go back." For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of departure. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, receiving a robe, departs. For him, having gone outside the boundary, it occurs thus – "Here I will make this robe, I will not go back." He makes that robe. For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of completion. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, receiving a robe, departs. For him, having gone outside the boundary, it occurs thus – "Here I will make this robe, I will not go back." For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of resolution. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, receiving a robe, departs. For him, having gone outside the boundary, it occurs thus – "Here I will make this robe, I will not go back." He makes that robe. While that robe is being made, it is destroyed. For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of destruction. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, receiving a robe, departs – "I will go back." He, having gone outside the boundary, makes that robe. He, having made the robe, hears – "Indeed, in that dwelling the kathina has been lifted." For that bhikkhu, the kathina is lifted at the time of hearing. A bhikkhu who has spread the kathina, receiving a robe, de... departs, thinking, "I will go on." Having gone outside the boundary, he makes that robe. Having made the robe, thinking, "I will go on, I will go on," he passes the kathina-extraction outside. For that bhikkhu, the kathina-extraction is boundary-transgressed. A bhikkhu, having the kathina spread, takes a robe and departs,