At one time the monks from the group of six went to the dyers, stole their stock of cloth, brought it back to the monastery, and shared it out. The other monks said to them, “You have great merit, seeing that you’ve gotten so much robe-cloth.” “How is it that we have merit? Just now we went to the dyers and stole their cloth.” “But hasn’t the Buddha laid down a training rule? Why then do you steal the dyers’ cloth?” “It’s true that the Buddha has laid down a training rule, but it concerns inhabited areas, not the wilderness.” “But that’s just the same. It’s not suitable, it’s not proper, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. How could you steal the dyers’ cloth? This will affect people’s confidence, and cause some to lose it.” After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. The Buddha had the Sangha of monks gathered and questioned those monks: “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them, “It’s not suitable, foolish men, it’s not proper, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. How could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence, and cause some to lose it.” Then, after rebuking the monks from the group of six in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … but he spoke in praise of … being energetic. Having given a teaching on what is right and proper, he addressed the monks … “And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling