Lzh Dg Bu Pm Np 28Haste-Cloth

SUTTA ON HASTE-CLOTH (Accekacīvara)

Background

The Accekacīvara Sutta (Haste-Cloth) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravada Buddhist tradition and is recorded among the rules for managing the personal property of bhikkhus. It is one of the very small disciplinary suttas, yet it carries profound meaning regarding the pure and solitary way of life of Buddhist monastics.

The background of the sutta arises from a specific situation in the Sangha during the Buddha's time. A certain bhikkhu quickly sewed a robe from cloth that had been prepared in advance, without waiting or following the prescribed rules. This act led the Buddha to give a specific teaching to standardize the way bhikkhus handled robes, especially the steps in the process of making their robes.

The Vinaya Piṭaka is one of the three fundamental collections of the Pāli Canon. These contents are not only formal rules, but also practical guidance helping monastics maintain discipline, cultivate concentration, and develop wisdom.

Main Content

The Accekacīvara Sutta revolves around the issue of making a robe too quickly or without following the prescribed order. The word "acceka" means "hasty" or "one time," while "cīvara" means "garment" or "robe."

According to the content of the sutta, a bhikkhu should not hastily sew a robe without observing certain rules. The process of making monastic garments was required by the Buddha to be carried out solemnly and in order. This includes the steps of preparing the cloth, dyeing it, and sewing according to certain principles.

The reason behind these rules is not meaningless formality, but the education of monastics in mindfulness and intention in every action. Preparing a garment carefully reflects the spirit of concentration (samādhi) and heedfulness (appamāda), qualities necessary for a bhikkhu in the life of practice.