Lzh Mg Bu Pm Np 9Requesting Fine Robes From a Combined Robe Fund
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyaupakkhata
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Commentary on the Dutiyaupakkhata Sutta
Requesting Fine Robes From a Combined Robe Fund
Background
The Dutiyaupakkhata belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the section of the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, where the rules of training for bhikkhunīs (nuns) are recorded. This is not a Dhamma discourse but rather an administrative portion of the Vinaya Piṭaka, regulating the activities of communal life in ancient monasteries.
The context giving rise to this rule concerns the management of communal property within the monastic community. When bhikkhunīs pooled their robes and garments into a combined fund (saṅghika-vatthu) to support one another, a question arose: does any individual have the right to claim the finest robes from this fund? This rule was established by the Blessed One to maintain fairness and to prevent disputes relating to communal property.
The Theravāda tradition regards the Vinaya Piṭaka as the foundation of the Teaching, for it sustains discipline, which in turn supports the development of concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā). Without the Vinaya, the monastic community cannot endure in a stable and lasting way.
Main Content
The Dutiyaupakkhata rule centers on the principle that when bhikkhunīs wish to request robes from the combined fund, they are not permitted to select the finest or most expensive robes. Rather, they must follow a fair procedure, with the matter decided by the community or by a person duly authorized to administer the fund.
The Vinaya stipulates that if someone has need of a new robe, she must present a valid reason — for instance, that her old robe is torn or mildewed. The administrator of the fund will then provide a suitable robe, not necessarily one that is costly or of the finest quality. The purpose is to ensure that communal property is used in a fitting and reasonable manner, keeping far from greed (lobha) and partiality.
This rule also reflects a broader principle within the Vinaya Piṭaka: bhikkhunīs should not accumulate personal possessions beyond what is necessary. Such accumulation is regarded as evidence of mental defilements (kilesa) and as a means through which sensual craving (kāma-taṇhā) manifests.
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