Lzh Sarv Bu Pm As 7Covering With Grass

The Tiṇavatthāraka Sutta — The Sutta on Covering with Grass

Background

The Tiṇavatthāraka Sutta, “Covering with Grass,” is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules of practice and regulations for managing the community of monks and nuns, established by the Buddha in the early period of the order. Unlike the discourses in the Sutta Piṭaka, which focus on theory and contemplation, the Vinaya Piṭaka contains practical ethical principles and concrete guidance for action for those who have gone forth.

This sutta records a legal situation concerning practical matters in monastic life, specifically the handling of daily requisites such as grass, straw, and basic equipment of the monks. The background is that when the Buddha and his disciples encountered practical difficulties, unsuitable behavior arose, requiring guidance from the Blessed One.

Main Content

Tiṇavatthāraka deals with how essential materials should be used and preserved in monasteries, especially dried grass used for bedding, mats, and the construction of monastery facilities. Historically, early Buddhist monasteries were often located in remote places, deep forests, caves, or temporary plots of land, where natural materials such as grass and leaves were precious and indispensable resources.

This sutta records situations in which monastics were careless in managing common goods or misused these resources. The Buddha therefore established clear rules: monks must not discard grass arbitrarily or waste it, but must use it wisely and responsibly. This is an expression of appicchatā, fewness of wishes and non-greed, one of the foundational virtues of early Buddhism.

This rule also reflects the principle of dāna, offering.