Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 37Lifted Robe

Explanation of the Ukkhittaka Sutta (Lifted Robe)

Background

The Ukkhittaka Sutta, provisionally translated as “Lifted Robe,” belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Suttavibhaṅga section of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the training rules for bhikkhunīs. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation of communal discipline for monks and nuns, compiled after the Buddha’s passing in order to maintain the spirit of practice and communal order.

This sutta arose from a specific incident in the life of the early Sangha. A bhikkhunī lifted or pulled up her robe in a manner not in keeping with the rules of virtue, possibly involving insufficient covering of the body or conduct lacking refinement. On account of this incident, the Buddha gave clear guidance on how to wear the kāṣāya, the three-part monastic robe, and maintain decorum in dress; this concerns not only material appearance but also the state of mind in practice.

Main Content

The specific content of this sutta has not been fully translated, but based on the context of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the Ukkhittaka Sutta deals with the manner of wearing and managing the kāṣāya. In the Theravāda tradition, the three robes (uttarāsaṅga, antarvāsaka, saṁghāṭi) have profound symbolic and practical meaning.

The Buddha taught that the robe must be worn according to certain principles: it should be worn properly, covering the body with dignity, in a way befitting one who has gone forth. “Lifting the robe” (ukkhitta) in an improper manner may be understood as careless or undignified conduct, contrary to the spirit of Brahmacariya, the holy life. The sutta may concern specific situations such as lifting the robe too high while crossing water, pulling the robe in a suggestive way, or wearing the robe in an improper manner.

The Buddha laid down specific guidance for bhikkhunīs to follow, in order to protect their own virtue, preserve the spirit of practice, and maintain a positive image within the lay community.