The wanderer realized they were right, and so he returned to Upananda and said, “Here’s your upper robe. Please give me back mine.” “But didn’t I ask you if you were sure? I won’t give it back.” Then that wanderer complained and criticized him, “Even householders give back to each other when they regret a trade. How, then, can a monastic not do the same?” The monks heard the complaints of that wanderer, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, “How could Venerable Upananda barter with a wanderer?” After rebuking him in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Upananda: “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘If a monk engages in various kinds of barter, he commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Definitions A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. Various kinds: robes, almsfood, a dwelling, or medicinal supplies; even a bit of bath powder, a tooth cleaner, or a piece of string.