Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Np 3Out-of-Season Robe Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Akālacīvara
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The Discourse on Out-of-Season Robe Cloth (Akālacīvara)
Background
The Discourse on Out-of-Season Robe Cloth belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka in the Theravada tradition, within the Pātimokkha Nuns’ Rules, the rules for bhikkhunis. This is one of the most detailed disciplinary rules of the Sangha, developed from actual situations that occurred in the earliest monastic community after the Buddha’s awakening.
This text reflects the historical context in which the Sangha was still perfecting its common rules of life. The regulations concerning robe cloth were not absolute commands, but the result of the Buddha’s step-by-step guidance to his disciples. The core purpose was to direct bhikkhunis toward moderation, to avoid straying into materiality, and to maintain the purity of the Sangha.
Main Content
The regulation on out-of-season robe cloth (akālacīvara) concerns the time and manner in which bhikkhunis use robe cloth. According to the Theravada tradition, the monastic year for bhikkhunis is divided into certain periods, including the "rainy season" (vassā) and other seasons.
Out-of-season robe cloth refers to cloth received or used at a time not in accordance with the prescribed period. This text concerns situations in which a bhikkhuni receives cloth, makes a robe, or uses robe cloth at times not appropriate according to the communal rule. This is regarded as an offense (dukkaṭa), or possibly a more serious offense depending on the specific circumstances.
This regulation is intended to create simplicity and not to provide conditions for excessive accumulation. Bhikkhunis are instructed to be careful not to receive too much cloth at inappropriate times, avoiding the impression of greed or causing disorder in the management of the monastery’s common property.
Practical Meaning
The Discourse on Out-of-Season Robe Cloth carries a deep meaning concerning moderation and vigilance. It is not merely a cold technical rule, but an expression of a basic principle of Dhamma: to live simply, restrain greedy emotions, and protect the mind from the tricks of material things.
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