San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Np 12Pure Black Blanket
Pāli / Sanskrit:Suddhakāla
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The Sutta on Pure Black Robes (Suddhakāla)
Background
The Sutta on Pure Black Robes (Suddhakāla) is a disciplinary chapter belonging to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma. This chapter is found in the Pāli collection of the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially in the Nidāna, the summary of offenses, and the Pāṭimokkha, the disciplinary recitation. This is a work belonging to the Bhikkhunī Vinaya, connected with the rules of life for bhikkhunīs.
In that context, the Buddha established standards concerning clothing and items regarded as impure or unsuitable for those who have gone forth. The Suddhakāla Sutta focuses on the question of robe color (cīvara) for bhikkhunīs, especially black robes or clothing whose color is unclear. This discourse is not a teaching on profound philosophy, but a practical regulation intended to maintain purity and discipline in the community of practice.
Main Content
This discourse prescribes that truly black robes (kāla-cīvara) or garments whose color is not clearly determined are unsuitable for monastics. The main reason lies in the concept of "pure black" (suddhakāla), meaning that garments must be dyed clearly and appropriately, avoiding colors that are lustrous or difficult to determine.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the clothing of bhikkhunīs must meet certain standards: it must not be too luxurious, must not attract attention, and must express the spirit of one who has gone forth. A truly black robe is regarded as unsuitable because it may suggest worldly elements, or it may be a sign of an intention to conceal oneself.
The discourse prescribes specific standards for the way robes are dyed, the colors that are accepted, and the methods of attaining "purity" in robe color. These regulations are not only related to material matters but also carry deep symbolic meaning concerning inner purity. Observing these requirements is regarded as part of the Dhamma, the way of acting and living in harmony with the spirit of practice.
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