四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 3.20

3.20

Regarding the rationale for the institution: The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states: "Because of the desire to manifest an unprecedented teaching; none of all the ninety-six kinds of tīrthikas have these three names, so it is to distinguish [Buddhists] from the tīrthikas." The Fenbie gongde lun states: "Because of the three seasons, three robes were instituted: in winter one wears thick ones, in summer one wears light ones, and in spring one wears medium ones. It is also for the sake of the various insects." The Dà zhìdù lùn states: "The noble disciples of the Buddha abide in the Middle Way, hence they wear three robes; the tīrthikas go naked without shame, while laypeople are full of greed and wear heavy clothing." The Daśādhyāya-vinaya states: "In order to distinguish them from tīrthikas, they cut them with a knife, so that people know they are the robes of those with shame." The Saṃyuktāgama states: "Those who cultivate the four immeasurables shave their hair and beard, don the three Dharma robes, and go forth from home." Judging by this designation, they are the attire of the compassionate. The Avataṃsaka-sūtra states: "Those who wear the kāṣāya relinquish the three poisons," and so forth. The Dharmaguptaka Vinaya states: "One who harbors the fetters should not put on the kāṣāya," and so forth. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā gives five rationales for instituting the three robes: First, a single robe cannot ward off cold, whereas three robes can ward it off; second, [with a single robe] one cannot maintain shame; third, it is not fit for entering a village; fourth, it goes so far that practicing the path will not generate wholesome states; fifth, the deportment (īryāpatha) will not be pure. Instituting the rule that one must keep three fulfills the above purposes. The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: "The three robes are the badge of the noble and worthy śramaṇas; the bowl is the vessel of the renunciant, not something used by worldly folk. One should hold and keep the three robes and the earthenware bowl, which means having few desires and few affairs," and so forth. The other schools outside our own mostly instituted the three on account of cold. The Dharmaguptaka Vinaya also states: "Because the Tathāgatas of the three times all wore such robes."