Lzh Mu Bi Pm Np 6Asking an Unrelated Person for Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Aññātakaviññatti
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Aññātakaviññatti Sutra: Asking for Robes from an Unrelated Person
Context
Aññātakaviññatti, asking for robes from an unrelated person, is a provision in the Vinaya Piṭaka, belonging to the Nirvana (Np) section of the Mahāvibhaṅga. It was recorded when the Buddha and the early disciples needed to establish rules for the life of the Sangha in order to protect the practice and preserve pure relations among bhikkhus.
In the traditional Theravāda context, an “unrelated person” (aññātaka) is someone outside the family, not a parent, sibling, or blood relative. For bhikkhus, requesting property or necessary items from such people needs to be carefully regulated, because it can lead to complex situations concerning ethics and the reputation of the Sangha.
Main Content
This sutra stipulates that a bhikkhu is not permitted actively to request or receive donations of robes (cīvara) from people who are not directly related to him. This developed into a training rule (sikkhāpada) intended to prevent abuse of spiritual influence or improper suggestive conduct.
The reason behind this rule is profound. First, it protects the honor of the Sangha from needless suspicion or gossip in the community. Second, it prevents unclear relationships that may lead to greed (lobha) or excessive attachment. Third, it preserves the seclusion (viveka) that bhikkhus need for mental cultivation. If a bhikkhu truly needs robes, he should turn to relatives or people with a proper connection, without hidden intention.
In particular, this relates to the prohibition concerning sexuality (abrahmacariyā). Any action that might be understood as trying to create an improper relationship with people of another gender is forbidden. The rule on robes from people outside the family is a concrete way to protect the practice of Brahmacarya, the holy life.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.