Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Np 15Taking Back Robe-Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraacchindana
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Interpretation of the Cīvaraacchindana Sutra (Sutra on Taking Back a Robe)
Background
In the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, regulations concerning robes are not only a material matter but are deeply connected with the ethics of practice and the order of the Sangha. The Cīvaraacchindana Sutra appears in the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga (the analysis for bhikkhus), in the Nisaggiya Pācittiya section (offenses requiring confession together with loss of ownership). The context arises when a bhikkhu or practitioner has acquired ownership of another person's robe, or when there is a dispute over ownership.
The Buddha established specific rules to protect the property of monastics, especially essential requisites such as robes (cīvara). These regulations aim to maintain discipline in the Sangha, prevent disputes, and create a foundation for harmony.
Main Content
The rule concerning taking back a robe (acchindana) refers to situations in which a bhikkhu has the right to request the return of his own robe if it has been lost, unlawfully taken, or unfairly retained. The sutra clearly stipulates the conditions under which one may take back property, and the manner of doing so without violating other training rules.
An important element is the distinction among kinds of robes and the ways they are owned. According to the Vinaya, each bhikkhu is permitted to possess at most three robes (Tisaṅghāti): the upper robe (uttarāsaṅga), the inner robe (antarvāsaka), and the outer robe (uttarāsaṅga). If someone appropriates another's robe beyond the permitted scope, taking it back is regarded as legitimate.
The sutra also addresses complex situations: when a robe is damaged, shared unfairly, or kept by practitioners who have no right to it. The procedure for taking it back must follow established steps, including confirming ownership before members of the Sangha, in order to avoid creating disputes or relying on personal opinion.
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