Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 13Not Enter Wearing Robe Like God Polou

Commentary: The Sutta on Not Wearing the Robe in the Manner of the God Polou

Background

This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka comprises the rules of training promulgated by the Blessed One to regulate the communal life of monks and nuns, to protect the spirit of practice, and to uphold the honor of the Saṅgha within society.

The circumstances giving rise to this sutta are connected to specific incidents in the early history of the Saṅgha. Monks, in the course of their daily life, sometimes engaged in conduct not in keeping with the humble way of life that the Dharma requires. The manner in which monastics wear their robes is not merely a matter of aesthetics or comfort; it also reflects one's attitude toward practice, one's reverence for the Dharma, and one's degree of attachment to material refinement.

The title of this sutta—"Not Wearing the Robe in the Manner of the God Polou"—evokes the image of deities or supernatural beings found in local legend, entities said to delight in display, splendor, and arrogance. This comparison serves as a warning to monks that the manner of wearing the robe should not carry a character of self-display or a desire to attract attention.

Principal Content

This rule prohibits monks from wearing the civara in an improper manner or for the purpose of showing off, in the way that devatās or supramundane figures in legend are described as wearing their garments to demonstrate power and status. Specifically, the wearing of the robe should not:

First, serve the purpose of attracting the attention or praise of others. A monk has gone forth to transcend craving and defilement, not to seek material gain, veneration, or renown.

Second, express fastidiousness or fondness for material things. The monk's civara must be an instrument of practice, not a symbol of social standing or a means of provocation.

Third, violate the spirit of the monastic robe—a symbol of humility and renunciation. Every aspect of wearing the robe, from its folds to the way it is fastened, must express a mind of loving care and submission to the Dharma.