四分律行事鈔資持記 3.39

3.39

In the next section, it first clarifies what is according to the Dharma. The reason the long increases up to four while the short is restricted to one is stated in the Commentary: 'The Dharma robe is a field of respect to benefit the various realms of existence; it symbolizes the holy increasing while the ordinary decreases, and allegorizes that the long are many while the short are few.' From 'If' onward, it distinguishes what is not according to the Dharma. As for the reason why the formal reception is valid but wearing it incurs an offense, the Commentary states: 'Wearing it adopts its proper decorum and form, functioning to generate goodness in living beings; if the long and short are discordant, it violates compassionate pure conduct; with each step transgressing decorum, an offense is incurred for each and every one.' (Nowadays people in the Chan assemblies mostly make nine strips with long and short irregular, sometimes using gauze or damask, sometimes variegated or green, calling them Dharma robes themselves; their material, color, measure, and form all violate the correct regulation—what Dharma is there in that?)