At that time there was a big monk called Venerable Udāyī. After putting out his sitting mat in front of the Buddha, he stretched it on all sides before sitting down. The Buddha asked him, “Udāyī, why are you stretching the sitting mat on all sides, as if an old hide?” “Because, sir, the sitting mat you’ve allowed for the monks is too small.” Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow a border of one handspan for the sitting mat. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘If a monk is having a sitting mat made, it should be made the right size.

This is the right size: two standard handspans long and one-and-a-half wide, and a border of one handspan. If it exceeds that, it is to be cut down, and he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions A sitting mat: one with a border is what is meant. Is having made: making it himself or having it made, it should be made the right size. This is the right size: two standard handspans long and one-and-a-half wide, and a border of one handspan. If he makes one, or has one made, that exceeds that, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When he gets it, it is to be cut down, and he is then to confess an offense entailing confession.

Permutations If he finishes what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he has others finish what he began himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he finishes himself what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he has others finish what was begun by others, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he makes one or has one made for the benefit of someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he gets one that was made by someone else and then uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses