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VILI, 14, 2.
THE DRESS OF THE BHIKKHUS.
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One has ordained the use of three robes, a double waist cloth, and a single upper robe, and a single under-garment, and this under-garment of mine is torn. What if I were to insert a slip of cloth? so that the robe shall be double all round and single in the middle.'
2. So that Bhikkhu inserted a slip of cloth. And the Blessed One on his way round the sleeping apartments saw him doing so, went up to the place where he was, and said to him :
What are you doing, O Bhikkhu ?' I am inserting a slip of cloth, Lord.'
That is very good, o Bhikkhu. It is quite right of you, O Bhikkhu, to insert a slip of cloth.'
And the Blessed One on that occasion, when he had delivered a religious discourse, addressed the Bhikkhus, and said :
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to use a double waist cloth, and a single upper robe, and a single undergarment, of cloths which are new, or as good as new8; and the use of a fourfold waist cloth, and of a double upper robe, and of a double under robe of cloth which has been worn for a long time. You are to make endeavour to get sufficient material from rags taken from the dust-heap, or from bits picked up in the bazaar. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, slips of cloth inserted bolt-like to hold a torn robe
1 See above, VIII, 13, 5.
• Buddhaghosa says, Aggalam akkhâdeyyan (sic) ti khinnathâne pilotika-khandam laggâpeyyam. The word occurs at Gataka 1, 8, where the liability to want such an insertion is given as one of the nine disadvantages of a robe from the ascetic's point of view. * Ahata-kappânam. See above, VII, 1, 6.
See our notes on these expressions above, VII, 1, 6.
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