San Mg Bu Pm Pc 88Rainy-Season Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vassikasāṭikā
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Explanation of the Vassikasāṭikā Sutta (Rainy-Season Robe)
Background
In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of discipline that regulates the training life of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. The Vassikasāṭikā Sutta (Rainy-Season Robe) belongs to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the special code of discipline for nuns. It is classified in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession, which are rules concerning lighter actions that nevertheless require confession and correction.
The background for the arising of this sutta is connected with practical needs in the Buddha’s community of nuns. During the rainy season (vassā), when the weather was harsh, nuns needed to change garments in order to avoid illness. However, if the possession and use of rainy-season robes were not clearly regulated, problems could arise concerning renunciation, greed, or imbalance within the community. Therefore the Buddha issued a specific teaching on how to handle rainy-season robes, both protecting the health of the nuns and preserving the spirit of mindfulness and non-greed.
Main Content
The Vassikasāṭikā Sutta stipulates that nuns are permitted to possess one rainy-season robe (vassikasāṭikā) during the rains in order to protect their health. However, this rule does not permit a nun to possess rainy-season robes beyond actual need or to store robes for resale and profit. If a nun receives a rainy-season robe but does not need to use it immediately, she must return it to the monastery or the community within a certain period.
What is important is that a nun must not conceal or hide a rainy-season robe; everything must be done transparently and with the approval of the community. If a nun violates this rule, for example by storing rainy-season robes beyond the prescribed number or using them from a motive of greed, she must perform confession (pācittiya), that is, acknowledge the fault before the whole community and resolve to make amends.
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