四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.40

2.40

Precept on Spending the Night Separated from One's Robes, the Second. / 1. Purpose of the enactment: The three robes are the garments conforming to the Dharma of all Buddhas of the three periods of time; they are the most essential necessities for sustaining the body and advancing the Path. In principle, they should accompany the body like the two wings of a bird, never separated even for an instant. Now, if one leaves the robes here while one's body stays in a different place, should cold or heat suddenly arise, one's urgent need cannot easily be met; furthermore, lacking guardianship, loss might easily occur; neglecting these requisites for bodily sustenance would bring no small vexation. Therefore, the Sage instituted the rule. / 2. Explanation of the name: A person being in a different place is called "separated"; passing the night is called "spending the night." If prolonged, negligence in duties arises; if brief, vexation arises. A limit of one day is set; if exceeded, it constitutes an offense. Therefore it is called the precept on spending the night separated [from one's robes]. / 3. Fulfillment of conditions: The general conditions are understood as above. There are six specific conditions: first, it is one of the three robes; second, the ritual for taking up and holding has been applied; third, the person and the robe are in different boundaries; fourth, there is no intention of relinquishing it; fifth, there are no mitigating circumstances; sixth, at the break of dawn, the offense is committed. / 4. Deficiencies: These can be understood by analogy with the previous explanations. / Below, the precept text is formally clarified. The text also has three parts: first, because the group of six monks left their robes in a different place and went off among people, an offense arose from this, so the Buddha briefly enacted a rule, not permitting separation from one's robes. Next, because there was a sick monk whose robes were heavy and who could not carry them while traveling, the Buddha permitted a legal procedure granting exemption to separate without fault. Afterwards, the extensive rule was enacted.