Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 67Hiding Robes

The Sutta on Hiding Robes (Cīvaraapanidhāna)

Background

The Sutta on Hiding Robes belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha — the disciplinary code for bhikkhunīs. These are detailed regulations on how female renunciants manage and use robes, one of the four basic requisites (catuparikkhāra) that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī is permitted to possess.

This rule arose from specific events in the monastic community during the Buddha’s time. When bhikkhunīs did not properly manage their robes — especially by hiding, accumulating, or using them beyond what was allowed — this caused problems for collective discipline and was inconsistent with the spirit of practice of the Buddha-Dharma. For this reason, the Buddha laid down specific rules to help us understand the proper attitude toward monastic property.

Main Content

The rule on hiding robes (cīvaraapanidhāna) handles the situation in which a bhikkhunī intentionally hides, stores, or conceals her robes. According to the Vinaya, this action is not only a lack of honesty but also reflects greed and fear — factors directly opposed to the many training rules concerning the management of communal property.

Robes in the monastic context are not personal property. They are regarded as tools of practice, provided to protect the body from harsh weather and to help the monastery maintain order and standards of cleanliness. When a female renunciant hides or appropriates robes beyond what is allowed, she may rightly be held responsible according to the degree of the offense.

This rule is also related to the principle of hiding or concealing property. If the act is done with fraudulent intention or for a nontransparent purpose, it will be closely examined. However, if a bhikkhunī only temporarily safeguards robes without intending permanent appropriation, or if this is done under the guidance of the abbess, the situation is different.