四分律行事鈔資持記 3.50

3.50

In the Mahāsāṃghika, it first shows what is not according to the Dharma. It states: There were bhikṣus who sewed edge to edge; the Buddha said: 'You should not sew edge to edge, you should make borders.' This means painting strips and borders and simply sewing them straight through; with the margins adjoining each other, it is called 'edge to edge'. From 'Should' onward, there are six instructions on what is according to the Dharma: first, the rule of cutting and severing. From 'Extreme' onward, second, showing the size of strips and borders. The Karma Commentary states: 'Nowadays they are mostly broad and large, stirred by frivolous customs.' The Protocols for Robes states: 'Like small wild barley, dividing into plots and borders to serve as a worldly field of merit; nowadays people exceed the correct measurement, so it is not a Dharma robe.' One must conform to the teaching and not make them broad and wide. From 'Not' onward, third, clarifying the difference between long and short. From 'Sew' onward, fourth, clarifying the sewing and stitching. 'Xuan' means unraveling. 'Horse-tooth stitch' was traditionally called 'stolen-stitch stitching', being as wide as a horse's tooth. Or making 'bird-foot stitch', which the Commentary says: 'stamping the borders in a T-shape with three forks is it.' From 'Robe' onward, fifth, clarifying the provision of borders. The Commentary states: 'Because of surrounding borders, wearing it will not quickly damage it.' 'In emergencies as before' means running coarse stitches quickly to finish, and stitching it further later. From 'Borrowing' onward, sixth, clarifying attaching ties and loops. This refers directly to the precept against parting from one's robes. It explains that when a bhikṣu has cause to spend the night elsewhere, he temporarily borrows a secular quilt, receives and retains it, performs deśanā, attaches ties and loops, and so forth.