緇門警訓 3.38

3.38

The Commentary cites the Sarvāstivāda: "It was to manifest an unprecedented dharma; none of the ninety-six kinds of heterodox paths have these three names, so it was to distinguish them from the heterodox paths." The Fenbie gongde lun states: "For the three seasons, the three robes were instituted: in winter one wears heavy [robes], in summer one wears light [robes], and in spring one wears medium [robes]; it was also for the sake of various insects." The Da zhidu lun states: "The Buddha's noble disciples abide in the Middle Way, and so they wear the three robes. Heterodox ascetics go naked without shame, while white-robed laypeople have much craving and wear heavy layers." The Daśabhāṇavāra states: "To distinguish them from the heterodox paths, they cut [the cloth] with knives, making it known as the clothing of those who possess shame." The Samyuktāgama states: "Those who cultivate the four immeasurables shave their hair and beard, don the three Dharma robes, and go forth." According to this designation, they are the garments of the compassionate. The Avataṃsaka states: "Those who wear the kāṣāya abandon the three poisons, and so forth." The Dharmaguptaka states: "One who harbors defilements should not wear the kāṣāya." The Sarvāstivāda gives five reasons for instituting the three robes: "First, one robe cannot keep out the cold, but three robes can; second, [with only one] one cannot maintain modesty and shame; third, it is unsuitable for entering villages; fourth, even walking along the road one will not generate goodness; fifth, the deportment will not be pure. Therefore, they are instituted so that one keeps three, thereby fulfilling the above purposes." The Mahāsāṃghika states: "The three robes are the insignia of worthy and noble śramaṇas; the bowl is the vessel of one who has gone forth, not something used by worldly folk, and it should be held and kept. The three robes and earthenware bowl are signs of few desires and few affairs, and the like." In our school and outside divisions, they are mostly instituted as three for the sake of the cold. The Dharmaguptaka also states: "The Tathāgatas of the three periods of time all wear such robes." The Commentary on the Vinaya Deeds states: "As taught in the vinaya: Because the bhikṣus stored surplus cloth and did not moderate themselves, the Tathāgata wore one robe in the first watch of the night, and so on until wearing the third in the last watch of the night; on the following morning, he accordingly instituted the initial rules for robes."