Lzh Mu Bu Vb Np 5Used Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Purāṇacīvara
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The Sutta on Used Robes (Purāṇacīvara)
Background
The Sutta on Used Robes is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Nuns’ Pācittiya, the rules concerning offenses that require confession by women monastics. This sutta was recorded to address a practical problem that arose in the early Sangha.
The historical background shows that in the early period of Buddhism, the monastic community had to face difficulties concerning property and material goods. Robes (cīvara) were not always readily available; robes were used for a long time, sometimes repaired or given again to others. The issue of how to use and manage used robes arose when some nuns acted in ways inconsistent with the mind of relinquishment, causing controversy in the Sangha.
Main Content
The Sutta on Used Robes concerns specific cases in which women monastics use or exchange used robes. The Pācittiya rule related to this action is meant to prevent habits of greed (lobha) or potentially improper conduct in the management of the community’s shared property.
Specifically, the sutta clearly sets out the conditions and boundaries under which a woman monastic may keep or receive a used robe. If the robe exceeds certain standards, such as material value, duration of use, or manner of acquisition, it becomes a Pācittiya offense, requiring the woman monastic to publicly confess her fault before the community.
The important point is that the Buddha-Dharma emphasizes that possession or accumulation of property beyond the needs of practice becomes a spiritual obstacle. Therefore, these rules are not harsh restrictions, but guidance for maintaining a pure attitude and simplicity within the Sangha community.
Practical Meaning
The Sutta on Used Robes teaches us that relinquishment (vossagga) is not only psychological letting go, but must also be expressed in concrete daily actions.
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