四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.85

2.85

"If a householder or a householder's wife has a weaver weave a robe for a bhikṣu, and the bhikṣu, having not previously received an unsolicited invitation, then goes to the weaver's place and says, 'This robe is being made for me; weave it exceptionally well for me, making it broad, large, sturdy, and fine, and I will give you some payment, large or small,' and this bhikṣu gives the robe payment, even as little as the cost of a single meal, if he obtains the robe, it is a niḥsargika-prāyaścittika." / This precept has three parts: first, brief; second, exception; third, complete. The complete text has four clauses: first, the offending person; second, the thread-owner sending it to be woven into the three robes; third, from "that bhikṣu..." down to "the cost of a meal," encouraging the weaver and paying the cost oneself; fourth, from "if he obtains..." downward, defining the offense. The top two clauses are obvious. As for "the bhikṣu, having not previously received an unsolicited invitation," this is the text of exception. The Vinaya states: The Buddha did not permit going to the house of robe-makers. Later, there were householders who invited bhikṣus to give them robes, but the bhikṣus were doubtful and dared not go; the Buddha therefore permitted going as appropriate, seeking [robes] with few desires and contentment, and soliciting lesser ones. The remaining clauses are evident from the text and can be understood. / Question: How does this differ from the weaving in the preceding precept? / Answer: There are four differences: 1. The former harms the weaver and does not harm the thread-owner, because [the thread] was obtained through begging; this one harms the thread-owner and does not harm the weaver. 2. In the former precept, one violates the rule and harms the weaver by not giving payment, thus committing an offense; here, one harms the thread-owner by giving payment, thus committing an offense. 3. In the former, an unrelated person incurs an offense, while a relative does not; in this one, both relatives and unrelated persons incur an offense. 4. In the former, it is one's own thread, and once woven the offense is committed; in this one, it is another's thread, and only upon accepting it is the offense committed. The Vinaya states regarding non-offenses: having previously received an invitation, going to seek with contentment and seeking a reduced amount; or soliciting from relatives; soliciting from monastics; or soliciting on behalf of another; another soliciting on one's own behalf; or obtaining without soliciting—none of these is an offense.