Lzh Mi Bu Pm Np 5Used Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Purāṇacīvara
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Discourse on Worn Robes (Purāṇacīvara)
Background
The Purāṇacīvara Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, belonging to the Pātimokkha Nuns’ Rules (Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha) or to regulations concerning the management of property among monks and nuns. It is a detailed code on how to handle worn robes (purāṇa = old, cīvara = robe, monastic garment), reflecting the carefulness of early Buddhism in arranging the communal property of the community.
The historical background of this text arises from practical situations: monastics needed clothing to cover the body, but the Buddha instructed them to use worn robes, robes drawn from communal property or donated by the people, without creating excessive distinctions. This text is part of the Vinaya system, the disciplinary rules that maintain order and purity of spirit and material life within the Sangha.
Main Content
The Purāṇacīvara Sutta prescribes that old robes, robes already used and no longer new, must be handled according to certain rules. Monks and nuns may not arbitrarily possess or distribute old robes without informing the Sangha. If worn robes are present, they must be gathered, inspected, and redistributed to those in need according to a fair procedure.
The important point in this text is the principle of non-ownership: communal property, such as robes, does not belong to individuals but to the Sangha. If a monk or nun discovers old robes, they should not discard or hide them, but inform the community so they may be reused or handled properly. This is an expression of frugality, respect for communal property, and avoidance of waste.
This rule also prevents unnecessary disputes over ownership of worn robes among members of the Sangha, while encouraging the spirit of sharing and collective management.
Practical Meaning
The Purāṇacīvara Sutta is not only a regulation about clothing, but a profound lesson in seclusion and contentment.
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