Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 68Robe Size

Commentary on the Sugatacīvara Sutta (Robe Size)

Background

The Sugatacīvara Sutta appears in the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section (offenses requiring confession). It is a rule concerning the material possessions of monastics—specifically, the manner of use of the robe (cīvara).

In the early period of Buddhism, when the Sangha was still small, the monks were instructed by the Buddha to live simply and without ambition. However, as the Sangha grew, certain practical issues arose. The Sugatacīvara Sutta addresses a specific case involving a monk who wished to possess or use a robe exceeding what was reasonably necessary.

The name "Sugata" (the Well-Gone One) refers to the Buddha himself on the profound path, and the robe (cīvara) here is not merely a material object but also a symbol of the inner quality of practice—humility, freedom from desire, and conformity with the holy life.

Principal Content

The sutta stipulates that a monk should not possess or request a robe of dimensions exceeding actual need. If a monk deliberately wishes to possess a robe beyond the standard measure without legitimate reason (such as an exceptional body size), such an act is regarded as a Pācittiya offense.

This offense is of a lighter nature than Pārājika offenses (offenses of defeat), yet it still requires confession before another monk in the Sangha. The reason this rule was established is that it reflects an attitude of greed or a desire to distinguish oneself from the community—both of which are contrary to the Buddha's fundamental teachings on renunciation and equality within the Sangha.

The sutta also suggests that observing such minor rules as these serves to train the mind in restraint, one small step at a time. It is an act of quiet, unspoken practice—neither complaining nor demanding what is unnecessary.