Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Np 21Out-of-Season Robe Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Akālacīvara
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Sutra on Out-of-Season Robe Cloth (Akālacīvara)
Background
The Sutra on Out-of-Season Robe Cloth belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, an important part of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the disciplinary code of Theravāda Buddhism. Regulations concerning robe cloth (cīvara) are not arbitrary restrictions, but reflect the Buddha's wisdom in managing the Sangha (the community of bhikkhus), especially in matters of sensuality and the distinction between rich and poor.
The sutra was formulated in a context in which early bhikkhus often appropriated or stored robe cloth outside the prescribed time. This caused trouble in the monastic community: unfairness in distribution, latent greed, and the tendency to display oneself through material goods. Therefore, the Buddha set forth clear principles to regulate it.
Main Content
Akālacīvara, "out-of-season robe cloth," refers to cloth used for making robes that a bhikkhu possesses outside the prescribed period. According to the Vinaya, in a year a bhikkhu is allowed to keep a certain amount of robe cloth, usually related to the three obligatory robes: uttarāsaṅga (upper robe), antaravāsaka (inner robe), and civara (main robe). Apart from these three robes, any reserve cloth is considered "out of season" if there is no necessary reason or approval by the Sangha.
The sutra stipulates that if a bhikkhu possesses out-of-season robe cloth without a legitimate cause, such as preparing to repair a robe or having a special illness, this is regarded as a violation of the Pāṭimokkha (the basic disciplinary code). This conduct is not merely a matter of consuming goods, but also reflects a state of greed (lobha) and self-display.
Permitted exceptions recorded in the sutra are connected with genuine necessity: during floods when a robe cannot be completed; when preparing for a long ceremonial journey or bequeathing robe cloth to another practitioner; or when certified by the Sangha. The purpose is not absolute prohibition, but the encouragement of moderation and awareness regarding material goods.
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