Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 58Hiding Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraapanidhāna
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The Sutta on Hiding Robes (Cīvaraapanidhāna)
Background
The Sutta on Hiding Robes belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, recording regulations on the management of monastic property, especially garments (cīvara). The background for the arising of this discourse lies in the early days of the Sangha, when the Buddha had just established the noble Sangha. Issues related to the ownership, use, and distribution of robes were carefully considered by the Buddha in order to build a firm disciplinary foundation.
The Vinaya is not merely a set of prohibitions. It consists of principles for communal life among monastics, encouraging harmony, self-restraint, and simple living. The Sutta on Hiding Robes specifically handles the matter that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī must not conceal or privately keep robes without letting those in the Sangha know. The act of hiding robes is considered a violation of transparency and communal integrity.
Main Content
According to the regulations of the Vinaya Piṭaka, each monastic is allowed to possess at most three robes (ticīvara): the lower robe, the upper robe, and the outer robe. But these garments are not to be regarded as private property. They are considered “ours” (sāmaggī), that is, communal property of the Sangha. When a bhikkhu hides a robe without informing others, or tries to conceal it from public knowledge, this violates the principle of “not hiding property.”
The discourse states clearly: if a monastic wishes to keep robes beyond the permitted number or hide them in secret places, that action is considered pācittiya, a minor violation that nevertheless requires confession. The purpose of this regulation is to maintain openness, transparency, and the prevention of greedy or hoarding behavior.
Robes, although a necessary requisite, must also be used according to principles: they are to cover the body and ward off cold, not for showing off or displaying status. If a monastic has extra robes, they must be declared to the community or placed under the care of the Sangha.
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