Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Np 25Taking Back Robe-Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraacchindana
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Cīvaraacchindana Sutta (Taking Back a Kāṣāya Robe)
Background
The Cīvaraacchindana Sutta (Cīvara-acchindana) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically the Pātimokkha section within the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the discipline for female bhikkhus. This code was established to maintain ethical discipline within the Sangha, especially the community of female monastics, in order to protect purity of right mindfulness and right conduct (sammā-caritta).
The appearance of this rule reflects specific situations that occurred during the Buddha’s lifetime, when female bhikkhus interacted with laypeople and sometimes had conflicts over property, especially kāṣāya robes (cīvara). The kāṣāya robe is not only a garment but also a symbol of the condition of going forth; therefore, taking it back carries deep legal and ethical implications.
Main Content
The Cīvaraacchindana Sutta deals with the case in which one female bhikkhu takes back the kāṣāya robe of another female bhikkhu without permission. This is a matter concerning communal or personal property within the Sangha. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the robe of a bhikkhu is regarded as monastic property (bhikkhu-bhoga), and seizing or taking it back unlawfully without following the formal procedure is a violation.
This rule provides that a female bhikkhu may not initiate on her own the taking back of another female bhikkhu’s kāṣāya robe, even if she believes that robe to be hers. Instead, the matter must be brought before the Sangha, examined by experienced bhikkhus, and only when there is common agreement or a decision of the Sangha may the action be carried out. If the female bhikkhu takes it back on her own without following this procedure, the act is considered a violation of the rules, such as Nissaggiya Pācittiya or Pācittiya depending on the specific situation.
Practical Meaning
This rule teaches that in the Sangha, no action may be carried out on the basis of a one-sided personal decision.
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