Lzh Mi Bu Vb Sk 13Lifted Robe
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ukkhittaka
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The Sutta on the Lifted Robe (Ukkhittaka)
Background
The Sutta on the Lifted Robe belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, specifically within the rules concerning the wearing of the kāṣāya robe by bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. This is not a sutta of doctrinal teaching in the ordinary sense, but a detailed rule prescribing proper conduct for renunciant practitioners.
In the context of Theravāda Buddhism, the Vinaya Piṭaka is regarded as injunctions established directly or indirectly by Buddha Śākyamuni, intended to protect the welfare of fellow practitioners and maintain the purity of the Sangha. The rules concerning clothing, including the way the monastic robe is worn, are not merely matters of administrative discipline, but reflect a deep philosophy of humility, self-restraint (samvara), and disregard for worldly concerns.
The name “Ukkhittaka” (lifted robe) refers specifically to the act of lifting the monastic robe over the shoulder in an improper manner, a seemingly small detail that carries broad significance for order and reverence.
Main Content
The Sutta on the Lifted Robe states that a bhikkhu should not wear the monastic robe by lifting it too high, exposing parts of the body that, according to the rule, should be covered. This is a minor breach (dukkaṭa), or possibly another offense depending on degree and intention, but it reflects an important principle: carefulness and respect for the renunciant robe.
The monastic robe (cīvara) in a bhikkhu’s life is not merely cloth to cover the body, but a symbol of the ascetic life and separation from the roughness of the world. The way the robe is worn must express stillness (santosa), contentment and simplicity. If the robe is lifted too high, even for a practical reason such as to be cooler in hot weather, it creates an improper image, may undermine confidence in the community, and may stir sensual desire in others.
This rule is also understood in the context of other regulations concerning the way one dresses, sleeps, and conducts daily life.
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