四分比丘戒本疏 2.64

2.64

Fourth, 'the time of traveling on the road'—down to half a yojana. Fifth, 'the time of boarding a boat'—also down to half a yojana. Sixth, 'the time of the great assembly gathering'—the times of making obeisance at the beginning and end of the summer retreat, when assemblies gather from all directions and food is hard to come by. The dānapati's charitable mind and capacity can only manage four people and cannot reach five; therefore an exemption is granted. Seventh, 'when a śramaṇa gives food'—this refers to when a non-Buddhist śramaṇa limits his giving to four people and cannot reach five. In order to protect his intention, it also falls within the exemptions. As for 'eight', this is because robe-giving has two [forms]. As for 'fourteen', according to the seventh fascicle of the Sarvāstivāda-śāstra, there are five kinds of non-offence; combined with the previous [nine, i.e., seven plus the expansion of robe-giving and another], they make thirteen, and together with the one in this Vinaya, there are fourteen in total. As for the five: 1. If the bell is struck and one does not exclude [others], there is no offence; if one excludes them from Saṃgha food, one commits theft of permanent property; if one excludes them from donated food, one commits [the offence of] eating in a separate group. 2. Calling out by seniority to invite them to enter is not an offence. This refers to when a dānapati wishes to extend a ninety-day invitation but his means are not universally sufficient; on the first day a chime should be struck and it should be proclaimed: 'Let those of sixty rains enter!' If down to even a single person enters, none of the remaining persons commit an offence. If there is no one of sixty rains, one gradually decreases [the number] and proclaims, down to if there is no one, even if one novice enters, there is no offence. If one does not proclaim on the first day, one must proclaim daily. 3. Invitation according to the Saṃgha's roster is not an offence. This refers to two or three places within the same boundary where, if down to a single person is invited according to the Saṃgha's roster to come and eat together, none of the remaining persons commit an offence. Calling from the Saṃgha's roster outside the boundary is also of no benefit. 4. Sending food to the Saṃgha is not an offence. At the place of invitation or begging, one portions out one share of food to send into the Saṃgha and distributes it to the monks to eat; none commit an offence. 5. Intending to send it and taking it back is not an offence. The treatise says: 'If one does not invite a single person by the Saṃgha's roster, one should make one portion of food and place it before the head of the elder, intending to send it to the Saṃgha. If the Saṃgha is distant and cannot be sent to, one should take this food and distribute it in order.' Furthermore, according to this Vinaya, there is one more exemption; the text says: 'If there are four persons or more than four persons, they should divide into two groups and take turns entering to eat.' Combined with the previous ones, this makes a total of fourteen exemptions.