San Lo Bi Vb Np 3Out-of-Season Robe Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Akālacīvara
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Exposition of the Akālacīvara Sutta (Robe Cloth Out of Season)
Background
The Akālacīvara Sutta, robe cloth out of season, belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition, the Pāli Canon. It is one of the detailed regulations concerning the life and management of property by bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs within the Sangha community.
The Vinaya Piṭaka records the arising of the regulations (Vinaya) through specific cases that occurred during the Buddha’s lifetime. When monastics violated or acted contrary to what was proper, the Buddha would instruct them and establish rules to maintain humble appearance, reasonable management of property, and the integrity of the Sangha.
The rule concerning robe cloth out of season (akālacīvara) reflects the spirit of economic and property management for monastics. The term “akāla” means “out of time” or “not the proper time,” while “cīvara” refers to a robe or robe cloth.
Main Content
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this sutta concerns receiving, possessing, and using robe cloth outside the prescribed periods. In the monastic community, there are certain times of the year designated for receiving offerings of robe cloth from the Buddhist laity; these are called kathina or festival occasions.
Outside these periods, for monastics to accumulate or specially seek new robe cloth is considered inconsistent with the spirit of humility. The rule of akālacīvara is intended to prevent greed, excessive gathering beyond what is needed, and to maintain dependence upon voluntary support from the community.
The sutta lays down that monks and nuns should not store robe cloth out of season, except in specially permitted cases, such as illness or when the rains residence is approaching. If cloth is received out of season without a valid reason, this is considered a fault, and what has been received must be relinquished or the offense reported according to the rules of the Sangha.
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