Lzh Dg Bi Pm Np 6Requesting Fine Robes From a Robe Fund
Pāli / Sanskrit:Upakkhata
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Upakkhata Rule: Requesting Fine Robes from a Robe Fund
Background
The Upakkhata rule belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, recording regulations concerning the disciplined life of the Buddhist Sangha. This rule concerns the issue of requesting fine robes (upakkhata) from the community’s common robe fund. In the early context of Buddhism, a robe fund was established to ensure that bhikkhus had sufficient basic robes for practice. However, regulations concerning how to request them had to be strictly observed in order to avoid abuse or unfairness within the community.
The historical background shows that the Buddha Śākyamuni, with his wise discernment, issued detailed regulations on how to use the common property fund of the Sangha. These rules were intended to cultivate integrity, limit ambition, and create fairness among members of the community of practice. The Upakkhata rule especially emphasizes that requesting robes from the fund is not a natural right, but must comply with certain conditions.
Main Content
The main content of this rule carefully guides the conditions a bhikkhu must satisfy in order to request fine robes from the common fund. First, the requester must be an official member of the Sangha, having gone forth (pabbajjā) and received full ordination (upasampada). Not all requests are accepted; only requests valid according to the Vinaya Piṭaka are considered.
This rule also stipulates the cases in which a new robe may be requested. Normally, requesting robes from the fund is permitted only when one’s old robe can no longer be used or in special circumstances. The request process must be carried out openly before the Sangha or entrusted to those managing the fund. This ensures transparency and prevents possible abuses.
The rule also discusses the authority of bhikkhus entrusted with managing the robe fund. They must observe the principles of fairness and impartiality, and serve the common benefit of the community.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.