Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 87Giving Robes

Cīvaradāna Sutta - Offering Robes

Background

In the Theravāda Vinaya tradition, the Cīvaradāna Sutta, the offering of robes, is recorded as part of the Pātimokkha, the basic rules of practice for bhikkhus. This sutta arose from specific situations that occurred in the Sangha during the Buddha’s lifetime, when disciples raised questions about handling material support for practice, especially robes (cīvara), the sacred garment of bhikkhus.

The regulations in the sutta are not arbitrary prohibitions, but expressions of a noble ethical principle: avoiding greed, treating the mind of craving, and developing a pure spiritual intention. Every rule established by the Buddha has a specific context, explaining how a certain bhikkhu violated the rule, after which the Buddha gathered the disciples and instructed them in ethics and discipline.

Main Content

Cīvaradāna focuses on rules related to offering, using, and making robes. In the Theravāda tradition, the robe is not only clothing that protects the body, but also a symbol of going forth and commitment to practicing according to the Noble Path.

The sutta states that a bhikkhu should not exploit personal relationships to ask for robe offerings, nor desire fine and luxurious robes. If a bhikkhu meets acquaintances or relatives from his former family, he must not request or hint that they offer robes to him, even if the reason appears valid. Such conduct is regarded as a violation of the Saṅghādisesa or Pācittiya rules, depending on degree and intention.

The core principle is this: a bhikkhu should be pure in livelihood (ājīva-pārisuddhi). Robes should be offered voluntarily by those who have faith, without urging or suggestion from the monastic. In addition, a bhikkhu should not distinguish between good and poor robes, but should accept whatever robe is fairly distributed by the Sangha.