Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pc 67Needle Cases
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sūcighara
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THE DISCOURSE ON NEEDLE CASES
Background
The Sūcighara Sutta (needle case) appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of ethical regulations for Buddhist monks and nuns. This is one of the minor rules, belonging to the Pātimokkha, the basic code that monastics must observe.
The background for the origin of this rule concerns the daily life of bhikkhus in the early years of Buddhism. At that time, bhikkhus needed to mend and maintain their robes, shawls, and other objects. To do this work, they used small cases containing needles, thread, and the necessary sewing tools. However, in the process of circulation and use, these cases could become property that helped monastics accumulate material things improperly, or be used for the wrong purpose.
The Buddha took this occasion to establish a regulation on how to manage needle cases, both to ensure flexibility in repairing ceremonial robes and to control the accumulation of property and protect the minimalist spirit of practitioners wishing to eliminate craving.
Main Content
The Sūcighara rule prescribes that a bhikkhu is permitted to possess a needle case to serve the need of repairing robes and necessary Buddhist objects. This case must be used reasonably, only to contain sewing implements such as needles, thread, and other necessary materials.
The specific regulation is that a bhikkhu must not possess many different cases, nor leave the case outside his control or let it become a means of uncontrolled accumulation. If the case is old or damaged, a bhikkhu may replace it with a new one, but must do this carefully, without waste.
Moreover, the needle case is regarded as part of the essential requisites (parihārika-dhamma) in the life of a bhikkhu, together with robes, the alms bowl, and a few other implements.
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