Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 52Hiding Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraapanidhāna
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SUTTA ON HIDING ROBES (Cīvaraapanidhāna)
An Explanation from the Vinaya Piṭaka — Theravāda Tradition
Background
The Sutta on Hiding Robes belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, within the collection of rules concerning lesser offenses. In the monastic community of early Buddhism, the possession and use of the robe was not only a matter of daily life, but was also deeply connected with spiritual practice and monastic discipline.
The content of this sutta arose from a specific incident in which bhikkhus violated the rule concerning the way a robe was put away or hidden when it was not being worn. This is one of the rules that may appear minor, yet it expresses the spirit of Buddhist discipline: every action of a practitioner is shaped into a rule in order to protect the mind and preserve the integrity of virtue.
Main Content
The sutta stipulates that bhikkhus, when they are not wearing their robes, must actively safeguard them and be mindful of where they are placed. To put away (apanidhāna), or hide, a robe carelessly, or to leave it in places where it may easily be lost without careful attention, is considered an offense.
According to the early Vinaya, this is not a grave offense but a minor one; nevertheless, it reflects the attitude of a practitioner toward both communal and personal property. In Buddhism, the robe is not merely a piece of cloth that covers the body; it is a symbol of going forth, of the vow to restrain the senses, and of living a pure life.
This rule requires bhikkhus to have mindfulness (sati) and carefulness (appamāda) in safeguarding the robe. It also indirectly teaches the impermanence (anicca) of material things: a robe may be lost or damaged. Therefore one should not be overly attached to it, yet one must still be responsible for the requisites entrusted for the sake of practice.
Practical Meaning
The deeper meaning of this sutta lies in the method of training the mind through small matters.
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