四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.67

2.67

"If a monk makes a new sitting mat, he must take a piece from the old one, one span in length and breadth, and patch it onto the new one, for the purpose of disfiguring the color. If he makes a new sitting mat without taking a piece from the old one, one span in length and breadth, to patch onto the new one to disfigure the color, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika." / In this full text of the precept there are three clauses: first, the person committing the offense; second, regulating the method of patching; third, from "if a monk" onward, determining the offense for not patching. / "If a monk" is explained as below. "A new sitting mat... patching with one span from the old" is the regulated method of patching. The Vinaya states: when making a new sitting mat, if the old one is not yet ruined and has no holes, one should take it, wash it, dye it, and prepare it; pulling and stretching it flat, one cuts a square of one span and patches it onto the new one, either at the edge or in the center, for the purpose of disfiguring the color. The Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya states: if one has no old one of one's own, one may not take one from a person of little learning, an offender against the precepts, an unlearned person, one who dwells in dilapidated rooms, an undisciplined person, one of bad reputation, one of annihilationist views, one who stays away from the two teachers, one who dislikes hearing and asking questions, or one who cannot distinguish the works of Māra; taking from others is the opposite of the above. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states: if there is no old one, even a one-span [piece of coarse fabric] should be used. The Samantapāsādikā states: as for an old one, if it has been sat upon even once, it does not need to be patched [anew]. From "if one makes a new sitting mat" down to "prāyaścittika", the offense is determined because of failing to patch. In this clause there are four points: 1. the object must be forfeited; 2. the offense must be confessed; 3. the object should be returned; 4. not returning it incurs an offense. The Vinaya states: if it is patched, or if one genuinely has nowhere to obtain [an old piece] and does not patch, or if another makes it for him, or if he obtains what is already made, or if it is made purely of old material, there is no offense.