San Lo Bu Pm Np 5Used Robes

The Purāṇacīvara Sutra (Old Robes Sutra)

Background

The Purāṇacīvara sutra belongs to the Nissaggiya Pācittiya section (offenses requiring confession and relinquishment) in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This sutra records an administrative instruction of the Buddha to bhikkhus concerning the use of clothing in the life of one practicing the Way.

In the Buddha’s time, bhikkhus lived dependent on the four requisites: clothing, food, lodging, and medicine. Clothing (cīvara) was not only an item for daily life but also a symbol of cleanliness, orderly appearance, and the way of practice of one gone forth. Therefore, the Buddha established detailed regulations concerning how clothing is to be possessed, used, and transferred, in order to protect the practitioner’s mind from greed and deviation.

Main Content

The Purāṇacīvara sutra states that if a bhikkhu receives old clothing (purāṇa) from another person without clear agreement or designation from the original owner, that bhikkhu commits a Nissaggiya Pācittiya offense. This means the act violates certain rules concerning lawful ownership in the Sangha.

This sutra particularly emphasizes the distinction between new clothing (nava) and old clothing. Old clothing is that which has been used, and therefore has lower value but still enough durability to be used. The issue raised is not economic value, but honesty and respect for the ownership rights of others.

The specific content of this sutra has not yet been fully translated in the available material. However, according to the general context of Nissaggiya Pācittiya, this sutra teaches that a bhikkhu must have a wish or be acknowledged (anuggaha) before receiving clothing. If he violates this, the bhikkhu must confess the fault before the Sangha or before a male bhikkhu, relinquish that clothing, and receive the admonition of the Sangha.