Ka Bu Pm Pc 26Sewing Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvarasibbana
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The Discourse on Sewing Robes (Cīvarasibbana)
Background
The discourse on Sewing Robes (Cīvarasibbana) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka and reflects regulations concerning the work of sewing robes by bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs in the Sangha. In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the disciplinary collection governing bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, recording the specific events that led the Buddha to establish each rule.
The context of this discourse arises from situations related to the way robes are sewn, the sacred clothing of bhikkhus. The robe is not only clothing that protects the body but also the symbol of going forth and the mark of one’s Dharma status in the Sangha. Sewing robes has specific regulations concerning time, method, and things to avoid, in order to maintain the purity and standards of monastic conduct.
Main Content
The Cīvarasibbana discourse states that the sewing of robes must follow certain principles. First, a bhikkhu must use suitable cloth, not too luxurious and not too poor, but the kind of cloth appropriate for a monastic. When carrying out the work of sewing, the bhikkhu should not be heedless or lax, but should maintain mindfulness (sati) in each step of the task.
Specific regulations include: a bhikkhu must sew his own robe or ask trustworthy people for assistance; he must not require laypeople who are not Buddhists to sew robes for him; the time for sewing must be appropriate, not so prolonged that the mind drifts away from practice, and not so rushed that errors arise. In addition, the sewing work must not become an opportunity for music, idle talk, or participation in activities contrary to the spirit of practice.
In particular, the discourse emphasizes that if a bhikkhu lets someone else sew the robe without lack of skill, hatred, or other disturbed mental states, this accords with the Dhamma. However, sewing robes must not become an occasion for trivial chatter while working, or for the mind to wander from the four foundations of mindfulness (cattāro satipaṭṭhānā).
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