Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Np 7Accepting Too Many Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatuttari
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Exposition of the Tatuttari Sutta (Accepting Too Many Robes)
Context
The Tatuttari Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Pātimokkha section, the fundamental code of the Buddhist Sangha. This is not a discourse on doctrine, but a set of training rules concerning the management of material possessions by bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns).
The sutta was formed from concrete situations that arose within the Sangha community. The Buddha Shakyamuni saw that some monastics were accumulating too many garments beyond their actual needs, which contradicted the Buddhist spirit of humility and freedom from craving. From these situations, the Buddha established principles of living that were later compiled into the Pātimokkha.
The Vinaya Piṭaka is regarded as a “discipline” that protects the integrity of the Sangha, helping monastics maintain a focused step on the path to liberation. The regulations concerning ownership of robes reflect a profound philosophy: material self-restraint is the foundation for spiritual freedom.
Main Content
The Tatuttari Sutta addresses a specific issue: a monastic receiving too many robes, exceeding the prescribed number. This is not merely a personal matter but affects the functioning of the Sangha. When a person accumulates too many possessions, that person’s spiritual energy is dispersed, and their maintenance also becomes burdensome.
The Buddha laid down that each bhikkhu should have no more than four basic robes: the lower robe (antara-vasaka), the upper robe (uttara-sanga), the outer robe (sanghaṭi), and a spare garment. This rule is not excessively severe, but sufficient to ensure that monastics live safely and have the means for daily life. The rule is also flexible: in difficult circumstances, one may be temporarily permitted to exceed the limit with the approval of the Sangha.
This rule also contains the idea of “tatuttari,” exceeding the limit. It reminds us that excess is not only a matter of clothing, but also of the mind.
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