佛制比丘六物圖 1.8

1.8

The Shichao states: "What is meant by 'prescription'? It means the three robes and six requisites, which the Buddha prescribed to be kept, applicable across the whole dispensation; he likewise prescribed their wearing and use, and if there is a transgression it incurs an offense." The Sarvāstivāda states: "It is because he wished to manifest an unprecedented teaching. None of the ninety-six paths possesses these three names; it is in order to be distinct from the non-Buddhists." The Dharmaguptaka-vinaya states: "The Tathāgatas of the three times all wore robes such as these." The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: "The three robes are the insignia (read as 'zhi') of the noble and sagely śramaṇas." The Saṃyuktāgama states: "Cultivate the four immeasurables and wear the three dharma robes; this, then, is the clothing of the compassionate." The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya states: "Because it is cut with a knife, one knows it is the clothing of a person of shame and conscience." The Avataṃsaka states: "One who wears the kāṣāya renounces and abandons the three poisons." The Dharmaguptaka-vinaya states: "One who harbors the defilements should not don the kāṣāya." The Xianyu jing states: "One who wears the kāṣāya shall swiftly attain liberation from birth and death." The Zhangfu yi states: "Summing up their grand purpose, they are nothing other than a vessel to cross the ocean of suffering and steps to level the steep slopes of life." As for why three are needed, the Fenbie gongde lun states: "It is for the sake of the three seasons: in winter one wears heavy [clothing], in summer one wears light [clothing], and in spring one wears medium [clothing]." The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa states: "Disciples of the Buddha abide in the Middle Way, and therefore wear the three robes. Non-Buddhists go naked without shame (because they abide in the view of annihilationism), while laypeople, being full of greed, pile on layers of clothing (because they abide in the view of eternalism)." The Sarvāstivāda-vinayavibhāṣā states: "A single robe cannot ward off the cold, but three robes can ward it off," and so forth. The Jietan jing states: "The three robes sever the three poisons. The five-strip robe (lower robe) severs greed in the body; the seven-strip robe (middle robe) severs anger in the speech; the great robe (upper robe) severs delusion in the mind." (The worldly tradition that takes the seven-strip robe, the pian-shan vest, and the skirt as the three robes is erroneous.) The first clause of the rules established by Zhiyi of Tiantai states: "The three robes, six requisites, and implements must be complete. If any robe or requisite is lacking, one may not reside together with the community." The first of National Preceptor Qingliang's ten vows states: "Only three robes and one bowl; I will not keep any surplus items."