Ka Bu Pm Pc 25Giving Robes

The Discourse on Giving Robes (Cīvaradāna) - Vinaya Piṭaka

Background

The Discourse on Giving Robes (Cīvaradāna) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Pātimokkha (Pātimokkhasaṃvara) section of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunīpātimokkha, the code for nuns. This is one of the canonical texts regulating the life of the Sangha, where the Buddha established principles of conduct to protect the spiritual life and support pure practice.

The origin of this discourse is rooted in specific situations that occurred in the early Buddhist community of monks and nuns. Some nuns did not follow the proper rules in the use of robes, leading to conflicts, ambition, and trouble for the community. Recognizing this, the Buddha acted skillfully, not punishing but guiding them with clear standards on how to offer and receive monastic robes (cīvara).

Main Content

In the Theravāda tradition, the monastic robe (cīvara) is one of the four basic requisites (paccaya) that a person gone forth needs in order to practice the noble path. The Discourse on Giving Robes clearly regulates the rules concerning giving, receiving, and using robes.

The basic principle established by the Buddha is this: a robe should not be given to a monastic teacher out of ambition or in expectation of some benefit, but should arise from compassion and reverence for pure conduct (sīla). Nuns must not give robes to show off or compete for status in the community. Likewise, teachers must not receive robes with the idea of personal ownership; when formally offered, the robe is the shared property of the Sangha.

The discourse also states that robes offered should be of suitable quality: not overly luxurious, not ragged and poor, but in keeping with the austere spirit of one gone forth. If robes are given and the recipient becomes curious or overly attached to the quality of the cloth, this violates the principle of renunciation (nekkhamma).