Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Np 23Asking a Group for Fine Robes

Exposition of the Discourse “Asking a Group for Fine Robes”

Background

This discourse lies within the Vinaya Pitaka, the most important component of the Pali Canon, recording the rules of practice for monks and nuns. Specifically, it belongs to the Nissaggiya Pacittiya section, offenses requiring relinquishment, legal rules concerning property and material needs of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.

The Buddha established these prohibitions not to confine practitioners, but to protect them from spiritual deviations arising from greed and discrimination regarding material things. The discourse on “Asking a Group for Fine Robes” reflects a specific situation: bhikkhus wished to possess high-quality garments by persuading the collective monastic community to allocate them.

The historical context shows that during the Buddha’s lifetime, the community of eight kinds of people, bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, laymen, laywomen, and other supporting groups, often provided robes for monastics. However, without proper coordination, some bhikkhus would take advantage of the collective system to obtain more fine robes than their rightful share.

Main Content

The discourse states that a bhikkhu is not permitted to ask the collective group, that is, the assembly of monastics, to allocate fine and beautiful robes for himself. If he acts in this way by lying or exaggerating his need, he violates one of the Nissaggiya Pacittiya rules, that is, an offense requiring relinquishment, the return of the received object, and admission of the fault before the Sangha.

The key point here is motive and method. If a bhikkhu truly needs a new robe because the old one is torn and worn, he may objectively inform the group or the head of the Sangha, so they may take the initiative to support him. However, actively “asking” the group in order to possess things beyond real need is an act arising from greed, one of the three poisons: greed, hatred, and delusion.