Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Np 1The Robe-Making Season
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kathina
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Kathina Sutta: The Season of the Kathina Robe
Background
Kathina, or "hard cutting," is a traditional ceremony of the Theravāda Buddhist Sangha, held at the end of the Rains Retreat (Vassa). According to the rules of the Vinaya Piṭaka, after three months of remaining in one place for practice during the rainy season, the entire Sangha gathers to confess faults openly, to share, and to join together in accepting new robes for the community.
Historically, these robes were made from freshly prepared cloth, often offered by the community out of faith. The preparation of Kathina is not merely a religious event, but an expression of harmonious acceptance within the community, as well as an occasion for laypeople to deepen their faith in the Dharma.
Main Content
Kathina provides that the Sangha should collectively make known any violations that occurred during the Rains Retreat, and then all the people together with the bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs cooperate in weaving robe-cloth, the robe or kāṣāya. This process takes place over one day and one night, expressing the common effort of the Sangha.
According to the Theravāda Vinaya, the condition for holding Kathina is that at least five bhikkhus must be assembled, and all the cloth must be completed within one continuous day and night. When the work is completed, the leader of the Sangha publicly declares that the Kathina robe has been accepted for the community. At that time, all members of the Sangha receive the benefit of certain relaxed rules (bhikkhu-nissaya) during the Kathina season.
In particular, during the Kathina season, bhikkhus are permitted to meet female disciples and receive offerings from them, matters that are usually restricted at other times. This shows the flexibility of the Vinaya Piṭaka in encouraging wholesome exchange between the Sangha and the lay community.
Practical Meaning
Kathina has profound meaning in the context of Theravāda practice. First of all, it is a symbol of acceptance (saṃgha-sammata) and harmony within the monastic community.
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