緇門警訓 3.49

3.49

The Shishi chao states: The Shisong lü says: 'Protect the three robes as your own skin, and the bowl as your eyes.' It further says: 'Wherever one goes, one goes with one's robes and bowl, without any clinging, just like a flying bird. If one enters a hamlet or the dwellings of secular folk without holding the three robes, it constitutes an offense.' The Sengqi lü also states: 'A monk's three robes and one bowl must constantly accompany his body. If he violates this and leaves the boundary, he incurs an offense, except in case of illness. One should revere the three robes with the thought that they are a stūpa.' The Wufen lü states: 'The three robes must be carefully guarded like the thin skin of the body, and must constantly accompany the body, just as a bird's feathers follow its flight and running.' The Sifen lü states: 'When walking, one knows the proper and improper times; where one does not go and where one goes, one goes together with robes and bowl, just as the wings and feathers of a flying bird follow along.' All the vinaya lineages enjoin keeping them on the body. Nowadays, people only guard against spending the night away from them, which does not accord with the teachings. The Commentary says: 'In these times, even guarding against spending the night away is rare, to say nothing of constantly keeping them with oneself; there are many who go their entire lives without having the Dharma robes on their bodies. Thus, in this final age, guarding against spending the night away is still considered superior. It is merely that inwardly they lack pure faith, showing contempt for the Dharma and despising the robes. May true sons of the renunciant life follow the sacred injunctions.' The Yeshu states: 'The reason why the robes and bowl must constantly accompany the body is that renunciants take an open mind as their basis, having no attachments or dwelling anywhere; where there is benefit, they stop. Therefore, it is enjoined that they accompany the body. If they are left behind at will, further lingering habits will increase, and one will never reflect on or choose those factors of the Path. Hence there is good reason for this.'