Pgd Pm Bf13 Np 3Out-of-Season Robe Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Akālacīvara
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Kinh Akālacīvara: Out-of-Season Robe Cloth
Background
The Akālacīvara is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically within the Pātimokkha (the foundational code of discipline for the Sangha). It is a detailed regulation concerning the receiving, storing, and use of material possessions—specifically robe cloth (cīvara)—by bhikkhus within the Buddhist Sangha.
The context in which this rule arose is connected to matters of managing the Sangha's communal property. In the earliest tradition of practice, the Buddha established a strict system of discipline aimed at preserving the purity, non-greed, and cohesion of the bhikkhus. The regulations concerning robe cloth are not meaningless restrictions, but rather profound guidelines that help monastics avoid sensual desire and maintain harmonious communal living.
The term "Akāla" means "out of season" or "at an improper time," while "cīvara" refers to robes or robe cloth. This rule therefore addresses the matter of receiving and using robe cloth at times not permitted by regulation.
Main Content
The Akālacīvara rule stipulates that bhikkhus are not permitted to accept or solicit robe cloth outside of the allowed periods (generally the rains season and the cold season, when garments are prone to damage, or on special occasions recognized by the Sangha). If a bhikkhu were to privately acquire robe cloth outside of the designated periods, this would be considered a violation, potentially constituting an offense of forfeiture with confession (Sukkholika Nissaggiya Pācittiya)—a class of offense requiring public acknowledgment.
This regulation has two principal reasons. First, it restrains greed and craving for physical comfort. Bhikkhus who observe this discipline learn to be content with what is sufficiently necessary, not seeking beyond what is needed.
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