Lzh Mi Bu Pm Np 18Haste-Cloth

Accekacīvara Sutta - Haste-Cloth

Background

The Accekacīvara Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, more precisely in the Pārivāra, the analytical section explaining the subtle details of the Buddha’s discipline. The background of this text arises from the need to manage the common property of the Sangha, especially cloth for making robe sets for monks and bhikkhus.

The word “accekacīvara” means “haste-cloth” or “cloth to be made in haste” (acce = urgent, swift; cīvara = cloth, robe set). This text concerns the rule on how monks manage robes when special situations arise, such as when cloth must be sewn quickly or shared outside the ordinary procedures.

It is part of the detailed Vinaya rules intended to maintain discipline and fairness and to prevent disputes in the Sangha. The rules concerning robe cloth are regarded as extremely important because they relate directly to the basic living needs of a practitioner.

Main Content

The Accekacīvara Sutta prescribes the case in which monks need to sew a robe set in an emergency or in haste. According to the Buddha’s discipline, the sewing of robes must follow certain rules to ensure fairness for the whole Sangha.

When an urgent need arises, such as cloth being damaged and needing immediate restoration, or some special arrangement occurring, the monks must agree with one another before acting. The text teaches that one must not arbitrarily sew or cut the communal cloth of the Sangha without the consent of the monastic community.

This rule includes how cloth is divided, the procedure for informing the Sangha, and matters to be avoided in the process. The emphasis is that “collective action” (sangha-kamma) must be respected, even in urgent cases.

The text also mentions the managers of cloth (cīvaruppatthi) and their responsibility to preserve and distribute robe sets to other monks, especially new monks or those in special circumstances.