Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Np 1The Robe-Making Season
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kathina
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EXPLANATION OF THE KATHINA DISCOURSE - THE ROBE-MAKING SEASON
Background
The Kathina discourse is one of the important regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. Kathina, from the Pāli root meaning “hard” or “firm,” in the monastic legal context refers to a special season of the Saṅgha after the period of the rains retreat, when monastics reside in one place for three months of practice.
The Kathina season originates in the earliest history of the monastic community. The Buddha saw that during the rains retreat, lay supporters (upāsakas) had difficulty providing requisites for monastics because of weather conditions and agricultural labor. After the rains retreat ended, laypeople were permitted to offer robes to the Saṅgha, and the Buddha established a period, usually the first month after the rains retreat, for this recognized offering to be performed solemnly and effectively.
Main Content
The Kathina discourse stipulates that after the rains retreat ends, monastics are permitted to receive offerings of robes from laypeople or from the Saṅgha. This process takes place through a formal ceremony called “Kathina-kicca,” the work of the Kathina season, in which the monastic community gathers together to prepare and make a new robe from the donated cloth.
An important feature is that after the Kathina has been “raised” or formally brought into effect (Kathina uddhāta), that is, when the Saṅgha officially recognizes the robe offering, monastics are allowed greater flexibility with robes without having to follow the usual restrictions. This permits more practical flexibility, because the formal robe is no longer required to be worn continuously. The Kathina period lasts until the end of the first month after the rains retreat, after which the ordinary rules concerning robes are restored.
The Kathina discourse also states clearly the necessary conditions for Kathina to be valid: the Saṅgha must gather properly, the requisite, usually robe cloth, must be offered voluntarily, and there must be direct recognition by the Saṅgha.
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