Mpt Sk 59Nāvarṇakārakaṁ paribhokṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nāvarṇakārakaṁ paribhokṣyāma
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Commentary on the Nāvarṇakārakaṁ paribhokṣyāma Sutta
Background
The Nāvarṇakārakaṁ paribhokṣyāma Sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, in the Mahāvagga. The title of this sutta, translated as “we will use material dyed in nine colors,” is directly related to rules concerning monastic robes in the community of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.
The context in which this sutta arose is often connected with practical issues in monastery life. When disciples go forth, they need to wear the robe (cīvara), a symbol of renouncing worldly social status. However, the dyeing and material of the robe became an ethical and disciplinary matter in training. The Buddha and the Sangha needed to establish clear rules to avoid display, ambition, or conformity with worldly customs.
Main Content
This sutta concerns the use of dyes prepared from nine different kinds of natural materials to produce the color of monastic robes. According to the Vinaya tradition, these materials were carefully selected to ensure that the robes of monastics were not too bright, did not attract attention, and did not reflect self-satisfaction or self-display.
The nine traditional dyes include substances derived from plants, minerals, and other natural materials recognized by the Buddha and the Sangha as appropriate. The purpose was not to create splendid garments, but to attain simplicity, modesty, and suitability to the austere life of practice.
This rule reflects a core principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: external discipline is not for punishment, but for nurturing the spiritual life and protecting the monastic community. Choosing simple and unified dye materials helps avoid distinctions based on appearance and creates equality among members of the Sangha.
Practical Meaning
This sutta teaches that external limits are not oppression but liberation.
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