Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 42Lifted Robe (2nd)

Explanation of the Dutiyaukkhittaka Sutta (The Robe Lifted the Second Time)

Context

The Dutiyaukkhittaka Sutta is a regulation in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, belonging to the body of rules concerning the use and care of the robes of bhikkhunīs. This context arose from specific situations in the early community of monks and nuns, when the Buddha needed to set out clear guidelines to maintain discipline and the teaching in the Sangha.

The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of formal rules, but the expression of profound ethical principles. Each regulation is rooted in actual events, from which the Buddha gradually built a comprehensive system of discipline to protect the spirit of practice of the community. The Dutiyaukkhittaka Sutta specifically concerns the management of personal property, namely the robe, one of the essential matters for female monastics.

Main Content

In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially the regulations concerning Saṅghavacara, communal rules, the management of robes reflects deep principles of restraint and renunciation. The robe (uttarāsaṅghati) is not merely clothing that protects the body, but also a symbol of the minimalist way of life and separation from material desires.

The rule "Lifted Robe (2nd)" concerns a situation in which the robe is "lifted" or used improperly, perhaps by being placed in unsuitable places or used in a way not fitting the nature of the monastic life. This sutta sets out specific guidelines to ensure that monastics maintain purity in every detail of daily life.

The nature of this regulation is the teaching that even seemingly minor activities, such as the way clothing is used, have profound ethical significance. It encourages carefulness, awareness, and respect for the basic principles of the path. This is an expression of the concept of appamāda (heedfulness), one of the most important teachings of the Buddha.