Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Np 5Used Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Purāṇacīvara
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Sutta on Used Robes (Purāṇacīvara)
Background
The Purāṇacīvara Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Nissaggiya Pācittiya section, the offenses requiring forfeiture of the offending object. These are detailed regulations for the daily life of bhikkhus, intended to nurture virtue and the practice of the noble path in a monastic environment.
The background for the appearance of this text is connected with specific incidents that occurred in the early Sangha community. The Buddha established these rules according to the principles of preventing abuse, protecting the reputation of the Sangha, and encouraging restraint in the use of property. These regulations reflect practical psychology: they help monastics focus on the Dharma rather than becoming entangled with material things.
Main Content
The sutta on old robes (purāṇa = old, cīvara = robe) prescribes how robes are to be used and handled within the Sangha. According to the Theravāda tradition, a bhikkhu may possess at most three official robes: the lower robe, the upper robe, and the outer robe. Each robe has an appropriate period of use and principles for replacement or disposal.
This text especially concerns the rules regarding when a robe is considered “old” (purāṇa), and how it may be handled without violating the discipline. Specifically, a robe is considered old when it has been used continuously for a certain period, or when it is damaged or its dye has faded. At that time, the monastic has the right to deal with it, by giving it away, transferring it to another, or repairing it, without violating the Nissaggiya Pācittiya rules.
This regulation also includes special cases, such as when a robe has been repaired many times, or when the community has witnessed its deterioration. The core principle is that old robes should not be left for a long time without being dealt with, because this may lead to careless accumulation, contrary to the spirit of training and restraint in the virtue of a bhikkhu.
Practical Meaning
The regulation on old robes is not merely an administrative rule.
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