San Lo Bi Pn 37Nuns’ Spreading

Explanation of the Bhikkhunī Āstāro Discourse (San Lo Bi Pn 37)

Nuns’ Spreading – A Discourse on the Way Bhikkhunīs Spread Their Robes

Background

This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddha Dharma tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the precepts for nuns. These are practical regulations completed by the Buddha to guide the bhikkhunī community, nuns who have gone forth, to live harmoniously, with discipline, and with care for the community.

The Bhikkhunī Sangha, the community of nuns, was established after the Buddha’s foster mother, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, together with five hundred other women, requested ordination. This process was not always smooth, and so the regulations in the Vinaya were created to protect respect, discipline, and the long-term development of the Sangha. The discourse “Nuns’ Spreading” concerns specific details about how to use the outer robe (āstāro or uttarāsaṅga), an important monastic garment of the bhikkhunī.

Main Content

In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, details such as how to spread, place, or carry the outer robe are not trivial matters. They relate directly to the dignity (sīla) of a nun, affect how lay donors view the Sangha community, and reflect the spirit of careful oversight and respect in every small action.

The uttarāsaṅga, the outer robe, is one of the three robes that every bhikkhunī must carefully maintain. The manner of spreading this robe is regulated in order to achieve three main aims: first, to express humility and dignity before the community and donors; second, to maintain uniformity in the appearance of the Sangha, helping bhikkhunīs be recognized as members of a community of practice and not as wanderers or frauds; third, to train mindfulness toward every action, even details that seem small.