At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time a certain government official was a supporter of Venerable Upananda the Sakyan. On one occasion that official sent a robe fund by messenger, saying, “Buy robe-cloth with this fund and give it to Venerable Upananda.” The messenger went to Upananda and said, “Venerable, I’ve brought a robe fund for you. Please receive it.” “We don’t receive robe funds, but we do receive allowable robe-cloth at the right time.” “Is there anyone who provides services for you?” Just then a lay follower had come to the monastery on some business. Upananda told the messenger, “This lay follower provides services for the monks.” The messenger instructed that lay follower and then returned to Upananda, saying, “I’ve instructed the lay follower you pointed out to me. Please go to them at the right time and they’ll give you robe-cloth.” Later on that government official sent a message to Upananda, saying, “Please use the robe-cloth. I would like you to use the robe-cloth.” When Upananda did not say anything to that lay follower, that government official sent him a second message saying the same thing. When Upananda still did not say anything to that lay follower, that government official sent him a third message.

At that time the householder association had made an agreement that whoever came late to a meeting would be fined fifty coins. And now they were having a meeting. Just then Upananda went to that lay follower and said, “I need robe-cloth.” “Please wait one day, venerable, for today there’s a meeting of the householder association. They’ve made an agreement that whoever comes late gets fined fifty coins.” Saying, “Give me the robe-cloth today,” he grabbed him by the belt. Being pressured by Upananda, the lay follower bought him robe-cloth, and as a consequence he was late for the meeting. People asked him, “Sir, why are you late? You’ve just lost fifty coins.” When that lay follower told them what had happened, they complained and criticized Upananda, “These Sakyan monastics have great desires. They’re not content. It’s no easy matter to provide them with a service. How could Venerable Upananda not agree when asked by a lay follower to wait for a day?” The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How could Venerable Upananda not agree when asked by a lay follower to wait for a day?”