Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 67Hiding Robes

The Discourse on Hiding Robes (Cīvaraapanidhāna)

Background

The Discourse on Hiding Robes belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddha-Dharma, where the rules of practice for the community of monastics are recorded in detail. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a code that restricts freedom, but wisdom concerning how to cultivate the mind, protect the Sangha, and carry out a pure way of life. Regulations concerning the robe are no exception; they reflect the Buddha's care regarding forms of ambition, conceit, and looseness in Dharma conduct.

In the land of India at that time, there were dry regions with hot winds blowing through, while at other times storms and rains prevailed. The robe was not merely woven cloth, but a symbol of renunciation: it defined the identity of the Sangha and proclaimed commitment to a life of hardship. Therefore, the way one treats the robe is itself a way of expressing one's deepest attitude toward the Dharma.

Main Content

The Discourse on Hiding Robes teaches that a monk should not hide his robe with an attitude of avoidance, or conceal it from other clean, dry places, or intentionally make his robe disappear in order to evade responsibility. This is not because the robe has great material value, being coarse pieces of cloth folded from unchosen scraps, but because the act of concealment contains an intention of deception, fear, and separation.

When a monk hides his robe, he is lying to himself about the nature of the renunciant life. He is concealing traces of failure, or fleeing responsibility before the monastic community. This act violates the spirit of the Pratimokṣa, the foundation of disciplinary conduct. The Buddha emphasized that monastics must live uprightly in the light, not concealing their actions.

Conversely, a right attitude is: my robe belongs to the Sangha, not to me separately. I wear it with gratitude and care. If I lose it or damage it, I must acknowledge this, make repair, and learn from this carefulness.