Lzh Mi Bu Pm Pc 27Sewing Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvarasibbana
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Explanation of the Cīvarasibbana Sutta (Sewing the Robes of the Sangha)
Background
The Cīvarasibbana Sutta is part of the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, within the rules of training for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. This is not a sutta teaching Dharma about wisdom or concentration, but a set of practical regulations related to daily life and the preservation of communal property, an important aspect of Vinaya restraint (Vinaya Samvarana).
In the Buddha's time, the Sanghas lived by means of robes provided to them or sewed from old pieces of cloth that had been collected. Sewing robes was not merely a handicraft skill, but concerned communal ownership, wise distribution of property, and education in non-greed. This sutta establishes rules for monastics to follow when sewing robes (cīvara), in order to protect the principle of simple living and avoid disputes in the community.
Main Content
The Cīvarasibbana Sutta regulates the principles governing monastics when they take part in sewing robes and preserving them. These rules are not merely about sewing techniques, but are also related to the management of common property, avoiding misuse of private ownership, and maintaining harmony in the Sangha.
Specifically, the sutta states the conditions under which monastics may perform the work of sewing and repairing robes, including methods for using different kinds of cloth, how to share the work within the community, and wise standards for deciding which robes should be kept, repaired, or discarded. This reflects the philosophy of Theravāda Buddhism concerning mindful use of material things: neither wasteful nor greedy.
The sutta also mentions cases of violation, such as deliberately damaging another person's robe or appropriating common property. Such actions are considered violations of the rules and must be handled according to the disciplinary procedure (sanghakamma) in order to maintain discipline and trust in the community.
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