San Lo Bu Pm Pc 64Hiding Robes

EXPLANATION OF THE CĪVARAAPANIDHĀNA RULE

Background

Cīvaraapanidhāna Sikkhāpada, the training rule on hiding robes, is one of the ninety-two Pācittiya rules in the Bhikkhu Vinaya section of the Pāli Vinaya Piṭaka. Pācittiya is a class of offense requiring confession before the Sangha when violated; it is lighter than Saṅghādisesa but still must be taken seriously in the pure life of those gone forth.

This rule was established by the Buddha to prevent unlawful conduct among bhikkhus, specifically the deliberate hiding or concealing of another bhikkhu’s robes, even for the purpose of joking or causing inconvenience. In the Theravāda tradition, robes (cīvara) are not only essential requisites but also deeply symbolic of the simple, contented life of an ascetic. Interfering with another’s robes, whatever the motive, is regarded as a violation of respect and harmony within the Sangha.

The background for establishing this rule arose from actual cases during the Buddha’s time, when some young or unmindful bhikkhus hid the robes of fellow practitioners as a joke, causing anxiety and wasting time in searching, thereby affecting their practice. The Buddha, with perfect wisdom, saw clearly that actions seemingly trivial could break the spirit of unity and cause discord in the Sangha.

Main Content

The specific content of the Cīvaraapanidhāna rule is recorded as Pācittiya 64 in the Suttavibhaṅga, the Analysis of the Rules, of the Vinaya Piṭaka. This rule states: any bhikkhu who intentionally hides, or causes another to hide, the robe, bowl, sitting cloth, or requisites of another bhikkhu, even merely as a joke, commits a Pācittiya offense.

The core point of this rule lies in the element of "intentionality" (sañcicca). If one accidentally spills something on, covers, or moves another’s robe without the intention of causing inconvenience, there is no offense. However, if one clearly knows that one’s action will cause difficulty for a fellow practitioner, even temporarily, then there is an offense.

The Vinaya also analyzes specific cases: hiding for a short or long time, hiding in an easy-to-find or hard-to-find place, all are considered according to the degree of distress caused. Especially if this act causes the bhikkhu whose robe is hidden to become anxious, afraid, or lose trust in fellow practitioners, the karmic weight becomes even heavier.

This rule also extends to requisites other than robes, such as the bowl, sitting cloth, needle and thread for sewing, all essential requisites in the simple life of one gone forth. The basic principle is: do nothing that harms the peace and practice of fellow practitioners, even in small matters.

Practical Meaning

The Cīvaraapanidhāna rule contains profound teachings on the ethics of a community of practice. First of all, it teaches respect (gārava), the foundation of all relationships in the Sangha.