Ka Bu Pm Np 7Accepting Too Many Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatuttari
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The Tatuttari Discourse (Accepting Too Many Robes)
Background
The Tatuttari discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically Khandaka Bu Pm Np 7, the section regulating the discipline of bhikkhus in the Sangha community. This discourse was recorded from the early days of the Buddha-Dharma, when the Buddha was still alive, and reflects practical issues arising in monastic life.
The context of the discourse concerns the management of monks’ personal property, especially robes (cīvara). In the Theravāda tradition, the robe is the symbol of one gone forth, but it is also a kind of property clearly regulated by the Vinaya in its use and care. The Tatuttari discourse addresses the situation in which a bhikkhu receives too many robes at one time, exceeding the standards established by the Buddha-Dharma.
The regulations on the number of robes are not arbitrary, but arise from the needs of practice and the principle of nonattachment to material things. Accumulating too much robe cloth goes against the spirit of humility and living with few wishes among Buddhist bhikkhus.
Main Content
The Tatuttari discourse states that a bhikkhu should not accept more than three sets of robes at one time. If more than three sets are offered at once, the bhikkhu must handle the matter properly, such as sharing them with fellow practitioners or refusing a portion. Excessive acceptance is regarded as a lack of humility and a sign of possessive ambition.
This regulation is not intended to make things difficult for monks, but to protect the spirit of practice. When a bhikkhu accepts too many robes, his mind tends to become distracted by arranging and protecting property, thereby weakening concentration in meditation and contemplation. Moreover, excessive possession may arouse jealousy or disputes within the community.
The Buddha-Dharma encourages a simple way of life, in which each bhikkhu keeps only what is necessary to maintain the proper renunciant life. Tatuttari is a concrete demonstration of this principle.
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