San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Np 2Staying Apart From Robes

Exposition of the Udosita Sutta

On Being Separated From Robes

Background

The Udosita Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic code of the Theravāda Buddhist Sangha. It is part of the Nissaggiya Pācittiya rules, offenses involving forfeiture with possible restoration, detailed regulations concerning the use of robes and property by bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.

The sutta is named “Udosita,” from a Pāli root meaning “left behind” or “separated from,” referring to a bhikkhu leaving robes (cīvara) in one place and departing without a valid arrangement. The context of this rule reflects the need to maintain discipline in the early Sangha, when renunciants required specific guidance regarding the management of property and responsibility for items used in training.

Main Content

The Udosita Sutta lays down that a bhikkhu must not leave robes in one place, such as the house of a supporter or in a monastery, and then depart without informing anyone or arranging for their care. If that bhikkhu is absent for more than three nights without anyone looking after his robes, or if he leaves robes somewhere and departs without telling anyone whether he will use them again, this is considered an offense (pācittiya).

This rule is not about owning too many robes, but about care, responsibility, and respect for property provided for the purpose of training. Robes in Buddhism are not objects of private self-interest, but instruments of practice, provided by the Sangha or by devotees with good intentions. Therefore abandoning them or failing to care for them is an act of disrespect.

In addition, the rule is connected with a strict principle of Theravāda Buddhism: bhikkhus must live simply, avoid waste, and always be aware of their dependence on the support of the community. Leaving robes somewhere without reporting it also creates difficulty for the person responsible for safeguarding that property.