Lzh Mi Bu Vb Pc 26Giving Robes

The Text on Offering Robes (Cīvaradāna)

Background

The Text on Offering Robes belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the disciplinary section of the traditional Buddhist Three Baskets. The Bhikkhuvibhaṅga of the Pāli Canon records rules related to offenses in the context of specific actions. This text revolves around the act of providing robes (cīvara) to bhikkhus, one of the legal matters within the monastic community from the Buddha's lifetime.

Robes are not merely material clothing, but a symbol of withdrawal from secular life, protection of the body, and a commitment to discipline. Therefore, regulations concerning the providing of robes are recorded in detail in the Vinaya Piṭaka, reflecting their importance in ascetic practice.

Main Content

The text teaches the precise conditions under which a devotee or a community should provide robes to bhikkhus. This is not an arbitrary act, but must follow clear principles. First, the robe must be provided with a pure intention, not for the purpose of concentrating benefit or fame. Second, the donor must have the capacity, whether financial or legal, to do so.

The text also makes clear that the providing of robes must follow the manner taught by the Buddha. For example, a bhikkhu should not be enabled to receive robes in ways that violate the discipline, such as through improper intermediaries or in situations that create disputes. Those who provide robes should understand that this act is a form of dāna, giving or generosity, one of the three basic wholesome practices of Buddhism.

The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes purity of motivation. Providing a robe transparently, witnessed by the community, produces a wholesome result different from providing it secretly or with calculations behind it. The text teaches that action in accordance with the discipline not only helps a bhikkhu obtain necessities, but also helps the donor accumulate merit and nourish faith in the Three Jewels.