Lzh Mu Bu Vb Np 7Accepting Too Many Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatuttari
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The Sutta on Accepting Too Many Robes (Tatuttari)
Background
The Tatuttari Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically within the Mahāvagga, the Great Section of the Bhikkhu Vinaya. This is part of the system of rules concerning the property and personal requisites of bhikkhus, reflecting the way the Buddha and the elders established monastic discipline to support diligent practice.
The historical background of this sutta arose from a specific event in the Sangha. Some bhikkhus, permitted to receive material offerings from faithful laypeople, accepted too many robes, exceeding their actual needs. This action led to discord and disputes in the Sangha, affecting the stability and concentration of practice of its members. Therefore, the Buddha established a rule (pācittiya) to regulate the number of robes a bhikkhu may accept.
Main Content
The Tatuttari Sutta states that a bhikkhu may keep at most three robes. If any bhikkhu receives more than this number without a valid reason, such as old robes being damaged and needing replacement, then that action violates the rule and must be confessed according to the regulation.
The reason for this limitation is to avoid storing property, which can lead to greed, rivalry, and the arising of disputes in the monastic community. The basic aim of the Vinaya is to minimize troubles connected with material things, allowing bhikkhus to concentrate fully on practicing the Dharma in order to attain nirvana.
Furthermore, this rule also reflects the principle of appropriateness. Robes are necessary monastic requisites, but only enough is needed. Keeping too many robes is not only wasteful but also contradicts the spirit of humility and non-greed, fundamental qualities a bhikkhu needs to cultivate.
Practical Meaning
For bhikkhus living in the twenty-first century, the Tatuttari Sutta still carries a profound message: always examine one’s motive when receiving offerings.
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