四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.30

3.30

"If a bhikṣu takes a rope bed, wooden bed, bedding, or sitting mat belonging to the Saṅgha, spreads it or has someone spread it in the open, and departs without taking it up himself or having someone take it up, it is a prāyaścittika." / In this full text of the precept, there are four clauses: first, the person committing the offense; second, that it belongs to the Saṅgha; third, from "in the open" onward, which directly clarifies the use; fourth, from "departs" onward, which concludes with the offense for not putting it away. / First, "if a bhikṣu": the meaning is as explained above. / Second, "takes… belonging to the Saṅgha": the Vinaya states, "'Saṅgha' refers to the Saṅgha of the four directions and the present Saṅgha." Regarding "belonging to [the Saṅgha]," rope beds are of five kinds: those with revolving legs, straight legs, curved legs, legs fitted into mortises, and legless. Wooden beds are also of five kinds, as stated above. Bedding is used either for sitting or for lying down. Sitting mats are intended for regular use in sitting. These four types are all Saṅgha property. / Third, "spreads it or has someone spread it in the open": this is its use in the open. / Fourth, "departs without taking it up himself or having someone take it up, it is a prāyaścittika": this is the offense for not putting it away. The Vinaya states, "If a bhikṣu, having spread property of the Saṅgha, does not put it away, and when leaving the monastery does not entrust it to the manager, as soon as he steps out of the gate he commits a prāyaścittika. If by expedient means he turns back having felt remorse, it is a duṣkṛta." If two people share the seat, the junior monk puts it away; if he does not, he commits two offenses, while the senior monk commits one prāyaścittika. If neither of them puts it away, both commit a prāyaścittika. Therefore the treatise says: "A senior monk and a junior monk share the same bed or seat. The junior monk thinks the senior will not put it away; the junior monk commits a prāyaścittika and a duṣkṛta. The senior monk intends that the junior monk should put it away, but the junior monk never puts it away; the senior monk commits a prāyaścittika. If neither goes before the other and neither puts it away, both incur a prāyaścittika." If one spreads Saṅgha property in the open and enters a room to meditate, it is a duṣkṛta. The Mahīśāsaka Vinaya states: "Seeing Saṅgha bedding in the open, because one did not spread it oneself nor have someone spread it, yet fails to put it away, one also commits a prāyaścittika." Going to a nunnery, spreading bedding belonging to the bhikṣuṇī-saṅgha, and failing to put it away is also a prāyaścittika. Furthermore, when borrowing Saṅgha bedding for a gathering at a layperson's house, if a bhikṣu does not put it away after eating, he also commits a prāyaścittika. The Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya states: "If while walking along the road one plucks loose grass to sit on, when leaving one should gather it together and then depart." The Vibhāṣā says: "Having spread it in the open, if one does not entrust it to someone and wanders among the various rooms, it is a duṣkṛta." / Exceptions: The Vinaya states, "If one takes Saṅgha property and spreads it in the open, upon leaving, if one informs the manager so that he knows; or if there is no other person, one should take it up and place it in a secluded place; if there is no secluded place and one is certain it will not be lost, one should place the coarse ones out and the fine ones above; if one will return immediately [and does so before rain falls], then one would incur a prāyaścittika [only if rain falls]; if in the rain one quickly returns in time—if one takes such expedients in sequence, one may depart. If it is not so, upon first stepping out the gate one commits the offense."