四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.60

2.60

"If a bhikṣu makes a new sleeping mat mixed with wild-silkworm floss, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika." This complete precept has three clauses: 1. The offender; 2. The matter of the offense; 3. The incurred offense. 'If a bhikṣu' is explained as above. Regarding 'silkworms of mixed wild-silkworm floss': in the western regions there are no domesticated silkworms; they use wild silkworms to make silk floss to fashion their three robes. In foreign lands, making robes generally has two methods: first, finely tearing cloth to stuff inside, like the method of making felt; second, spinning floss into thread and weaving it into robes. The Samantapāsādikā states that even mixing in a single fiber constitutes an offense. Kauśeya refers to the finest among silks, the name for what first emerges from the mouth of the silkworm. The Mahīśāsaka Vinaya states that if a silkworm-raising household offers floss, after receiving it one must give it to the Sangha and cannot keep it for oneself; thus we know that the intent behind this prohibition is weighty. If wild silkworms are already an offense, how much more so domesticated silkworms? If mixed floss is already an offense, how much more so using it purely? 'Niḥsargika-prāyaścittika' is the name of the offense. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states: if there are no silkworm-raising households, begging cocoons and making floss oneself incurs no offense; if done for sale, because they are worms, it is a duṣkṛta; making robes and mats not of the prescribed dimensions is a duṣkṛta; making it oneself or instructing another, when finished, is an offense of falling (prāyaścittika); if not finished, it is a duṣkṛta. A robe that incurs a niḥsargika should be forfeited and chopped up with an axe or hatchet, mixed with clay to smear walls and the like, and may not be worn again. If one makes use of it and wears it, every time one wears it one commits an offense. Regarding non-offenses, the Vinaya states: if one obtains what is already made, or if one begs for finished stuffed robes, or if it is worm-eaten, none of these constitute an offense. Twelfth precept: On using black sheep's wool to make a sleeping mat. The reason it is not permitted: this wool is a precious material and not suitable for base use; it wastes the offerings of donors and creates useless expenditure; processing it obstructs the Path and further invites criticism and ugliness; therefore it had to be prohibited. The general conditions are as above. There are four specific conditions: 1. Purely black sheep's wool, which is precious and fine, produced in the four great kingdoms, valuable and hard to obtain; 2. Making a sleeping mat; 3. For oneself; 4. Committing an offense upon completion. Below, the text of the precept is properly explained. This was because the group of six bhikṣus saw the Licchavi youths making black woolen cloth and were criticized and censured; the bhikṣus reported the fault, and the Buddha thereupon formulated the precept.