San Lo Bu Pm Np 8Requesting Fine Robes From a Robe Fund
Pāli / Sanskrit:Upakkhata
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The Upakkhata Sutra — Requesting Fine Silk Robes from a Robe Fund
Background
The Upakkhata sutra (Requesting Fine Silk Robes from a Robe Fund) belongs to the Nisaggiya Pācittiya section of the traditional Pāli Vinaya Piṭaka, recording rules related to the way of life of monks and nuns and the management of common property of the Sangha community. The background takes place in Kośinārā (Kusinara), where the Buddha entered nirvana, or in other monasteries within the Theravāda monastic community.
This issue arose when monastics needed robes (cīvara), one of the three necessary requisites in practice. The Sangha community often established a common fund (robe fund) to support monastics when old robes were damaged or no longer usable. However, some monastics took advantage of this fund to request robes that were too fine or too elegant beyond what was necessary, violating the spirit of humility and non-greed in the Buddha-Dharma.
Main Content
The Upakkhata sutra states that a monastic should not request from the common robe fund (atthaccaya-bhanda) silk robes, robes dyed in special colors, or robes of excessively high quality compared with actual need. In particular, requesting robes for storage or future use (rather than an urgent present need) is regarded as a fault.
This rule arises from a basic principle of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka: the property of the Sangha is to serve the common benefit, not to satisfy personal preferences or accumulation. When a monastic requests robes that are too fine, he not only violates the spirit of humility but also abuses the trust of the community and donors.
This fault is classified as Nisaggiya Pācittiya (an offense requiring relinquishment and confession), meaning the monastic must return the object received and acknowledge the fault before the community. The condition for confession is that the object be returned or that an intermediary correct the matter.
Practical Meaning
The Upakkhata sutra teaches the balance between caring for the body (gotta-parivara) and not falling into material greed.
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