San Lo Bi Vb Np 9Requesting Fine Robes From a Combined Robe Fund

Exposition of the Dutiyaupakkhata Sutta

On Requesting Fine Robes from a Common Robe Fund

Background

The Dutiyaupakkhata Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, within the Suttavibhaṅga, the detailed explanation of the training rules. This sutta concerns material goods and the management of welfare in the Sangha, especially the use of a common robe fund (Dutiya = second, Upakkhata = arranged or set aside).

The context arose from the practical needs of the early Buddhist Sangha. As the Sangha developed, the management of shared material goods became necessary. Bhikkhus needed robes, but not everyone was able to possess good robes. Therefore, the Sangha established common funds to buy robes and distribute them fairly. The Dutiyaupakkhata Sutta concerns the regulations governing how robes may be requested from these funds, especially when asking for robes of better quality that have been separately prepared.

Main Content

This sutta presents rules related to fairness and courtesy in requesting robes from a common fund. The specific content of this sutta has not been fully translated in the standard available Pāli Canon sources, but based on the context and structure of the Suttavibhaṅga, it deals with particular situations in which bhikkhus need to request better robes from a common fund of material goods.

The basic principle of the sutta concerns the Dhamma and mutual respect among members of the Sangha. When asking for robes from a common fund, a bhikkhu may not arbitrarily make demands or express dissatisfaction. The request must be made courteously, based on genuine need rather than personal ambition or discrimination.

The sutta is also connected with the rules governing how the Sangha community manages common property (saṃghika, belonging to the Sangha). The purpose of robe funds is to ensure that all members have sufficient suitable robes for practice, not to satisfy personal pleasure.