四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 3.59

3.59

Third, whether a formal request is required or not. First, explaining the requirement to request. The Sarvāstivāda states: One should seek learned persons and the like. If they die or go to another country, one should seek another pure person to act as such. Desiring that they serve as verification, this is called being in accord with the Dharma; hence we know that one must request them face-to-face. Even regarding money and precious items, it also says: Instruct them to let them know the rules of a bhikṣu, saying: "Now we take the dānapati as the pure owner." This explicitly allows requesting. Next, explaining that it appears a request is not required. The Pañcavargika-vinaya states: Among the five assemblies, one may give it as one pleases (this seems to be an immediate assignment on the spot; our school has no explicit text for this, so one may follow either of the two schools. If a person's virtue and renown are high and distant such that they cannot be reached, one follows the Pañcavargika-vinaya; if they can be summoned and requested, it is mandatory). In the procedure for requesting, one should maintain proper deportment, go before the Venerable One, state one's original intention, and upon receiving consent, then speak as follows: "Venerable One, with focused mind, take heed! I, the bhikṣu so-and-so, now request the Venerable One to be the vicarious pure donation owner for my robes, medicines, and almsbowl. May the Venerable One act as the vicarious pure donation owner for my robes, medicines, and almsbowl, out of compassion!" Request three times (according to the Samantapāsādikā, this applies generally across all five assemblies). If going to a nun, one states: "I now request the bhikṣuṇī to be the vicarious pure donation owner; may you kindly do so." (The lower three assemblies follow this by analogy; there is no text for their request ritual, so it is added by deduction.) For actual pure donation (the Samantapāsādikā states that it must be done before a bhikṣu, because it involves declaring pure donation directly to his face; the nuns and other four assemblies have no shared ritual, so by principle it is not permitted). The text says: "Venerable One, with focused mind, take heed! I now request the Venerable One to be the actual pure donation owner for my robes, medicines, and almsbowl. May the Venerable One act as my actual pure donation owner, out of compassion!" (Request three times.) As for the donor of precious items, the Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā says: First seek a layperson who understands the Dharma and speak to them; if they do not understand, instruct them so that they comprehend. Go to that person and say: "The rule of a bhikṣu is that he must not keep money, precious items, gold, silver, grain, and the like. Now I take the dānapati as the pure donation owner; any money or precious items obtained later are all given to the dānapati." Next, explaining whether they ought to be declared [within ten days] or not. The Sarvāstivāda says: Money, precious items, and grain are treated the same as extra robes, and must be declared in pure donation within ten days. The Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra explains similarly.