Lzh Dg Bu Pm Sk 3Lifted Robe
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ukkhittaka
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THE LIFTED ROBE SUTTA (UKKHITTAKA)
Background
The Lifted Robe Sutta (Ukkhittaka) is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically among the regulations concerning clothing and discipline in the monastic community. The Vinaya Piṭaka in Theravāda Buddhism is not merely a collection of prohibitions, but a system of training that nurtures the mind and conduct, protects the stability of the Sangha, and builds the optimal conditions for studying and practicing the Buddha-Dharma.
This sutta appears in the context of the Buddha and the earliest disciples recognizing that the clothing of practitioners needed clear standards. The saffron robe (cīvara) is not only an article for covering the body, but also a symbol of renunciation, a sign distinguishing one who follows the path from a worldly person. The issue of the "lifted robe," namely how to wear and handle the robe, became a matter of practice with deep significance.
Main Content
According to the Pāli Vinaya Piṭaka, monastic clothing regulations include detailed rules on how to wear the robe, care for it, and conduct related to the saffron robe. The matter of "lifting the robe" (ukkhittaka) concerns the habit of wearing the robe improperly, such as lifting it too high or not covering oneself properly, which may be regarded as undignified conduct or conduct falling short of the standard of one gone forth.
The rule states that monks and nuns must wear the robe so that it covers the body from the shoulder down to the knees; this is a basic standard of Vinaya discipline. If anyone intentionally lifts the robe too high or fails to cover properly without a valid reason, such as the demands of weather or labor, the act may be considered an offense or at least inconsistent with the spirit of renunciation. These rules were established not to restrict freedom, but to create uniformity, dignity, and to avoid unnecessary attention from worldly society.
Practical Meaning
The deeper meaning of Ukkhittaka goes beyond the matter of changing clothes. It reflects a core principle of Vinaya: awareness, self-control, and responsibility for external appearance are expressions of inner practice.
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