Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 162Making Tight Clothes for Another
Pāli / Sanskrit:Making tight clothes for another
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Explanation of the Discourse: The Vinaya Piṭaka (Pātimokkha Saṃvara, Rule 162)
Background
This discourse is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Pācittiya section, rules concerning minor offenses requiring confession. The content centers on the act of sewing tight-fitting clothes for another person, a seemingly ordinary detail that the Buddha saw as necessary to formalize into a rule of practice.
The historical context shows that a certain bhikkhu sewed or altered clothing with a cut that was too close to the body, intending to make the wearer look more attractive or alluring. The Buddha, with the vision of a bodhisattva, saw that this act violated the principle of humility and had the potential to stimulate sensual desire, so he issued this rule. It is not an absolute prohibition, but a practice of training intended to protect the mind and maintain pure discipline.
Main Content
This rule states that if a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī sews or alters clothing (Pāli: civara) for another person in a way that is too close to the body, they commit a Pācittiya offense. The key point is intention: the act must be done not for a reasonable practical reason, such as repairing torn clothing, but for the purpose of making the clothing tighter, thereby creating an alluring appearance.
In the Theravāda tradition, "tight-fitting clothes" (parikkhitta-civara) are understood as garments cut or used in a way that emphasizes the curves of the body. This violates the spirit of modesty (hiri) and the foundation of wisdom (Dharma), because it arouses sensual desire rather than promoting concentration and liberation.
The offense requires confession (pabbajjanīya): the practitioner must openly acknowledge it before the Sangha and repent. This is not punishment, but an opportunity to reestablish purity of mind and return to a life in accordance with the Dharma.
Practical Meaning
This rule teaches us to pay attention to every small detail in the life of practice. Clothing, though outwardly ordinary, is an inseparable part of the path of cultivation.
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