Lzh Mi Bu Pm Np 24A New Blanket Should be Kept for Six Years
Pāli / Sanskrit:Chabbassa
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CHABBASSA SUTTA: A COMMUNITY ROBE MUST BE KEPT FOR SIX YEARS
Background
The Chabbassa Sutta is found in the Vinaya Pitaka, in the Non-Offense (Nipata) section of the Pali Vinaya, recording regulations related to the common property of the Sangha. This rule was laid down by the Buddha to restrain ambition and protect consistency within the monastic community.
The Vinaya Pitaka is the collection of the most detailed rules of practice in the Pali Canon. These rules were not established arbitrarily, but arose from the practical needs of the Sangha community. When an incident occurred, whether through error, lack of reflection, or acquisitiveness, the Buddha would teach a rule to prevent such things in the future. In this spirit, the Chabbassa Sutta addresses the question of how to manage common property fairly and transparently.
Main Content
The Chabbassa Sutta stipulates that when the Sangha shares the use of a new robe (sanghati), that robe must be kept for a period of six years before it may be divided or dealt with in another way. This rule is not an unreasonable restriction, but reflects the Buddha's deep understanding of human psychology and the mechanisms for managing communal property.
The core idea is this: when an item is donated by workers or produced for the community, keeping it for a long period helps prevent a mentality of "quickly dividing it up" or "competing for it" within the monastic community. If the robe were divided arbitrarily or too soon, it would lead to disputes, resentment, and loss of trust. The six-year rule is a period sufficient to demonstrate fairness: all who remain there during this time have equal rights regarding the common property, rather than rights being based on the moment when they came or went.
This also expresses the principle of "living together in harmony" (samaggi-sambodhi). Instead of each individual worrying about his own share, the community together takes responsibility for preserving public property in a disciplined way. The six-year rule is not a bondage of greed, but a spiritual agreement that nurtures mutual trust.
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