San Lo Bi Vb Np 2Staying Apart From Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Udosita
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Exposition of the Udosita Sutta (Staying Apart from the Robes)
Background
The Udosita Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Nissaggiya Pācittiya section, offenses requiring forfeiture and confession. This sutta was recorded in the context of the Buddha declaring rules for managing the property of the Sangha, especially in relation to the robes of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.
The name “Udosita” means “staying apart” or “being separated,” referring to the case in which a member of the Sangha leaves their robe in another place without carrying it with them or without properly allowing another person to keep it on their behalf according to the Vinaya. This is a small but important detail in the ethics of practice, because the robe is not merely clothing but also a sacred instrument of practice for one who has gone forth.
Main Content
The Udosita Sutta lays down that when a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī leaves the robe in a separate place, not carrying it personally, for an extended period without a valid reason or the permission of the Sangha community, this violates a rule. Specifically, it is a Nissaggiya Pācittiya offense, an offense in which the offender must relinquish the article improperly kept and confess before the community.
This rule was established for practical reasons: first, the robe is the common property of the Sangha, not the private property of an individual. Second, leaving a robe far away may lead to possessiveness, selfishness, or the thought “this is mine.” Third, in the course of practice, managing property transparently and accurately helps prevent distractions and disputes within the Sangha community.
The specific rule is this: if a robe is left in another place and the member of the Sangha does not change their intention concerning keeping it or does not report it to the community, that person commits an offense. However, if the robe is left behind for a valid reason, such as illness, repair, and so on, or with the witness of another member of the Sangha, it is not considered an offense.
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