四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.78

2.78

The twenty-first precept: Keeping an extra bowl beyond the time limit. Regarding the intention behind the prohibition: A bowl is a vessel suitable for offerings, sufficient to sustain the body. Now, storing and keeping it beyond the limit increases greed and obstructs the Path, incurs worldly ridicule and ugliness, and its burden of detriment is not light; therefore, the holy one prohibited it. However, because the alteration of material things is impermanent, there may be loss or deprivation, and items necessary to sustain the body cannot be abandoned. If one does not accept it at the time of giving, it is difficult to seek later; therefore, an allowance of ten days is permitted to declare it permissible. Yet keeping it contrary to the limit transgresses the holy teaching, and exceeding it constitutes an offense. Regarding the explanation of the name: According to the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya, a monk obtained a bowl, and because the Buddha did not permit extra bowls, he gave it to another; his own bowl then broke, and the Buddha asked, “After how long did it break?” He replied, “Ten days.” Because of this, ten days were permitted. In the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, on account of a request, ten days were also subsequently permitted; hence it is called the precept of keeping a bowl for more than ten days. The particular conditions are five: 1. already possessing a received and kept bowl; 2. obtaining another bowl; 3. a bowl according with the Dharma, not one that is exempt, meaning it possesses the three conformities; 4. not declaring it permissible by giving; 5. exceeding ten days immediately constitutes an offense. The deficient conditions can be understood by comparison with what was stated before. Below, the text of the precept is properly explained. This precept arose because the group of six monks sought many fine bowls; laypeople criticized them, monks reported the fault, and the Buddha established the precept.