Lzh Dg Bu Pm Np 16Carrying Wool
Pāli / Sanskrit:Eḷakaloma
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Explanation of the Eḷakaloma Sutta (Carrying Wool)
Background
The Eḷakaloma Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, in the Pātimokkha section, the basic disciplinary rules for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. This is one of the precedents (adhikaraṇa) put forward by the Buddha to resolve disputes in the Sangha and to clarify monastic conduct.
The original Pāli title "Eḷakaloma" means "carrying wool" or "in the direction of wool," referring to an action connected with an everyday item of a monk. This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya texts as a regulation on handling small matters in the renunciant community, reflecting the Buddha's clarity and care for every detail in the life of the Sangha.
According to the Theravada tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a set of rigid prohibitions, but practical guidance based on the principles of reducing attachment, preserving conditions, and building harmony in the Sangha.
Main Content
The Eḷakaloma Sutta concerns the handling of items or actions in the daily life of bhikkhus. Specifically, it refers to situations in which bhikkhus need to carry or use materials such as wool, cotton cloth, or similar substances to make linings for a robe (saṅghāṭi) or other garments.
The content of the sutta establishes specific rules for the proper way to handle these materials. The Buddha gives teachings to ensure that bhikkhus do not violate the principle of humility (apacāyana) and carefulness in preserving purity of mind (sīla).
The sutta emphasizes that even actions or behaviors that seem small must be carried out with mindfulness (sati). This reflects a profound principle of the Dharma: no action is "too small" to deserve attention. Each movement, each intention, forms causes and conditions for practice.
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