[130] Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus, [thinking,] "It has been allowed by the Blessed One to ask for a bowl for one whose bowl is lost or whose bowl is broken," when there was even a trifling break, even a trifling hole, even a trifling chip, even a trifling scratch, not knowing moderation, asked for many bowls. Then that potter, making many bowls for the bhikkhus in that same way, was not able to make other goods for sale; he could not even support himself, and his wife and children were in hardship. People complained, criticized, and spread it about in the same way: "How can the ascetics, sons of the Sakyans, not knowing moderation, ask for many bowls? This man, making many bowls for them, is not able to make other goods for sale; he cannot even support himself, and his wife and children are in hardship."
Bhikkhus heard those people complaining, criticizing, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … they complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus, when there is even a trifling break, even a trifling hole, even a trifling chip, even a trifling scratch, not knowing moderation, ask for many bowls?" Then those bhikkhus reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you, when there is even a trifling break, even a trifling hole, even a trifling chip, even a trifling scratch, not knowing moderation, ask for many bowls?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, when there is even a trifling break, even a trifling hole, even a trifling chip, even a trifling scratch, not knowing moderation, ask for many bowls? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase [of confidence] of those already confident. … And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
"Whatever bhikkhu should have another new bowl gotten in exchange for a bowl with fewer than five mends, there is an offense entailing relinquishment with confession (nissaggiya pācittiya). That bowl is to be relinquished by that bhikkhu to the assembly of bhikkhus; and whatever is the last bowl belonging to that assembly of bhikkhus, that is to be given to that bhikkhu [with the words]: 'Bhikkhu, this is your bowl; it is to be kept until it breaks.' This is the proper procedure in that case."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.