Upp Np 25Taking Back Robe-Cloth

Exposition of the Cīvaraacchindana Sutta (Taking Back Robe-Cloth)

Context

The Cīvaraacchindana Sutta belongs to the Uddesavibhaṅga section of the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically among the rules concerning noteworthy violations by nuns. This discourse arose from a specific event in the time of the Buddha Gotama, when certain nuns acted in a way unsuitable to the Sangha, the community of monastics.

The context of the discourse concerns the handling of communal property, especially the robe (cīvara), one of the three basic requisites of a bhikkhunī according to the Buddha’s discipline. The robe is not only clothing but also a symbol of going forth, humility, and material independence in the early Buddhist tradition.

Main Content

The Cīvaraacchindana Sutta states that if a nun takes back, or attempts to take back, a robe from another person without permission, or in a case where it has been offered to the community and she later wishes to withdraw it, this is considered a fault in legal conduct (adhikaraṇa). Specifically, this action is related to a dukkaṭa offense or even more serious violations depending on the circumstances and intention.

The rule states that once a robe has been given to the Sangha or has become communal property, it cannot be taken back arbitrarily. If the nun feels that the terms of the offering are unsuitable, she must inform the Sangha according to formal procedures. The act of arbitrarily taking back or damaging another’s robe without consent violates the principle of non-greed (alobha) and respect for communal property.

The discourse also implies that excessive attachment to material possessions, even basic things such as robes, is a sign that desire has not yet been released. This is why the Vinaya Piṭaka pays special attention to violations involving improper handling of personal or communal property.

Practical Meaning

For practitioners in the early tradition today, the Cīvaraacchindana Sutta teaches the importance of gradual renunciation.