四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.93

2.93

The Precept against Receiving Urgent Gift Robes Before the Time and Keeping Them Beyond the Limit (the twenty-eighth). These two precepts together form one precept. Whether receiving before the time or keeping beyond the limit, both incur forfeiture and falling (niḥsargika-prāyaścittika); because both arise from urgent gift robes, their combination is required. If it is not an urgent gift and the rains retreat is not yet finished, the Buddha does not permit receiving it; receiving it incurs a duṣkṛta. The Mahīśāsaka Vinaya makes this text clear: after the Buddha formulated this intention, later, because the minister of a Licchavi invited the Saṃgha for the rains retreat, he was suddenly ordered on a military expedition and relinquished property to bestow on the Saṃgha in accordance with the rules of the rains retreat. Because the rains retreat was not yet finished, the bhikṣus could not casually receive it. In order to benefit the donor and enrich the bhikṣus, the Buddha permitted them to receive it within ten days before the enriching season without incurring a duṣkṛta. Relying on the Noble One's permission, knowing full well it is an urgent gift, receiving it before the time violates both teachings; because greed grows deep, it is a forfeiture and falling. There are five specific conditions for receiving before the time: first, it is an urgent gift; second, knowing it is an urgent gift; third, before the ten days; fourth, lacking a justifying circumstance; fifth, accepting it, whereupon the offense is incurred. Keeping beyond the limit is also completed by five conditions: first, it is an urgent gift; second, knowing [it is so]; third, receiving it within the ten days; fourth, not declaring it to render permissible; fifth, exceeding the time limit. The following directly clarifies the precept text. This arose because the group of six bhikṣus constantly begged for and received robes, and Upananda held the rains retreat in one place and received robes in another place, and furthermore, a minister made donations for the rains retreat; the Buddha, based on these allowances, formulated the precept.