Confession 145

The 145th training precept: Asking for the kaṭhina robe from the poor.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then a faithful householder had previously been wealthy, but was now poor, with few assets. When the bhikkhunīs had spread the kaṭhina robe, he had always offered it. The next year, when the time for spreading the robe had come, the bhikkhunīs went the householder and told him: “Please offer the robe reliably.” The householder replied: “You see that I have nothing now. If I later have anything, I’ll certainly offer it.” The bhikkhunīs said: “The time for the kaṭhina robe has come now, it can’t be delayed. Please raise (money) immediately and offer to the (merit) field of the sangha. You can repay your debt later.” The householder replied: “Okay.” Then he made a contract and borrowed money from someone. Later when the time was up, the creditor dragged him out. Other people asked: “Why are you being dragged out?” He replied: “I said I’d offer a robe.” They then answered: “If one establishes pure faith in the renunciates that are Sakyan daughters, one meets with these tribulations.” The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked if it was true and criticized them, as explained in detail, down to: “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that someone is poor, and asks them for the kaṭhina robe, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means a bhikkhunī in this dhamma.

“Knowing that someone is poor” means it’s apparent that they have nothing, and she asks for the kaṭhina robe from them.

The explanations of the rule factors etc. are as explained in detail elsewhere.