(Mv.VII.1.1) [95] Now at that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. And at that time thirty monks from Pāva — all of them wilderness dwellers; all of them almsfood eaters; all of them cast-off cloth wearers; all of them triple-robe wearers — going to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One as the time for entering for the Rains was nearing, were unable to reach Sāvatthī in time to enter for the Rains. Along the road, at Sāketa, they entered for the Rains.[2] They spent the Rains frustrated, (thinking,) “The Blessed One is staying right in the area — six yojanas from here — but we don’t get to see him.”

Then the monks, having completed the Rains after the passing of three months, when the Invitation was done, went to Sāvatthī as the devas were raining down, through standing water and mud, with their robes soaked, looking exhausted, and went to Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, and to the Blessed One. On arrival, they bowed down to him and sat to one side.

(Mv.VII.1.2) It is customary for Buddhas, Blessed Ones, to exchange pleasantries with incoming monks. Then the Blessed One said to the monks “Is it agreeable, monks? Are you getting by? Did you spend the Rains harmoniously, cordially, without dispute, and not have difficulty in going for alms?”

“It’s agreeble, O Blessed One. We’re getting by. And we spent the Rains harmoniously, cordial, without dispute — and we didn’t have difficulty in going for alms. Lord, we thirty monks from Pāva, coming to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One as the time for entering for the Rains was nearing, were unable to reach Sāvatthī in time to enter for the Rains. Along the road, at Sāketa, we entered for the Rains. We spent the Rains frustrated, (thinking,) ‘The Blessed One is staying right in the area — six yojanas from here — but we don’t get to see him.’ “Then, lord, having completed the Rains after the passing of three months, when the Invitation was done, we came along the road as the devas were raining down, through standing water and mud, with our robes soaked, looking exhausted.”

(Mv.VII.1.3) [96] Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“I allow that the kaṭhina be spread by monks who have completed the Rains.”

“For those who have spread the kaṭhina, five things will be proper: going away without have asked permission,[3] going away without taking (all three robes),[4] a group meal,[5] (undetermined) robe-cloth as long as is needed/wanted,[6] and whatever robe-cloth arises there will be theirs.[7] For those who have spread the kaṭhina, these five things will be proper.

“And this, monks, is how the kaṭhina should be spread:

(Mv.VII.1.4) “An experienced and competent monk should inform the Saṅgha:

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. This kaṭhina-cloth has arisen for the Saṅgha.

“‘If the Saṅgha is ready, it should give this kaṭhina-cloth to the monk named so-and-so to spread the kaṭhina.

“‘This is the motion.

“‘Venerable sirs, may the Saṅgha listen to me. This kaṭhina-cloth has arisen for the Saṅgha.

“‘The Saṅgha is giving this kaṭhina-cloth to the monk named so-and-so to spread the kaṭhina.

“‘He to whom the giving of this kaṭhina-cloth to the monk named so-and-so to spread the kaṭhina is agreeable should remain silent. He to whom it is not agreeable should speak.

“‘This kaṭhina-cloth is given by the Saṅgha to the monk named so-and-so to spread the kaṭhina.

“‘This is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent.

“‘Thus do I hold it.’

(Mv.VII.1.5) “Monks, in this way is the kaṭhina (properly) spread; in this way is it not (properly) spread:

[97] “And how is the kaṭhina not spread?

“Not simply by marking is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by washing is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by calculating the cloth is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by cutting is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by tacking is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by basting is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by making a seam is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by reinforcing is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by making a border is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by making a binding is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by patching is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not simply by wool-mashing[8] is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not through making a sign is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not through roundabout talking is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with borrowed (cloth) is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with (cloth) kept overnight is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with (cloth) to be forfeited is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with (cloth) not make proper is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with anything other than an outer robe is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with anything other than an upper robe is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not with anything other than a lower robe is the kaṭhina spread[1].

“Not with anything other than (a robe) made of five or more than five field-plots [sections], cut that very day, is the kaṭhina spread.

“Not otherwise than through the spreading by an individual is the kaṭhina spread.

“And even if the kaṭhina is spread,[10] but one expresses approval while standing outside the territory, thus, too, is the kaṭhina not (properly) spread.

“In this way, monks, the kaṭhina is not (properly) spread.

(Mv.VII.1.6) [98] “And how, monks, is the kaṭhina (properly) spread?

“The kaṭhina is spread with what is unsoiled.

“The kaṭhina is spread with what is made unsoiled.

“The kaṭhina is spread with a rag.

“The kaṭhina is spread with what is cast off.

“The kaṭhina is spread with shop-remnant cloth.

“(Having received the cloth) without making a sign is the kaṭhina spread.

“Without roundabout talking is the kaṭhina spread.

“With (cloth) not borrowed is the kaṭhina spread.

“With (cloth) not kept overnight is the kaṭhina spread.

“With (cloth) not to be forfeited is the kaṭhina spread.

“With (cloth) made proper is the kaṭhina spread.

“With an outer robe is the kaṭhina spread.

“With an upper robe is the kaṭhina spread.

“With a lower robe is the kaṭhina spread.

“With (a robe) made of five or more than five field-plots [sections], cut that very day, is the kaṭhina spread.

“Through the spreading by an individual is the kaṭhina spread.

“If the kaṭhina is spread, and if one expresses approval while standing inside the territory, thus, too, is the kaṭhina (properly) spread.

“In this way, monks, the kaṭhina is (properly) spread.

(Mv.VII.1.7) [99] “And how is the kaṭhina dismantled?

“These eight are the headings for the dismantling of the kaṭhina: reaching through going away, reaching through (the robe’s) being finished, reaching through a resolution (not to make a robe or to return), reaching through (the cloth’s) being lost, reaching through hearing (of the agreement to end the privileges), reaching through a disappointment of an expectation (for robe-cloth), reaching through going beyond the territory, dismantling together.”[11]