San Sarv Bu Pm Finot Np 25Taking Back Robe-Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraacchindana
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Discourse on Requesting Back Robe Cloth (Cīvaraacchindana)
Background
The Cīvaraacchindana discourse, requesting back robe cloth, is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the section of regulations for the practice of the Sangha and bhikkhunīs in the Theravāda tradition. This collection reflects specific situations arising in the monastic community, in order to implement the Pātimokkha, the disciplinary code, fairly and clearly.
Robe cloth (cīvara) in Theravāda Buddhism is not only clothing but also carries deep meaning in practice. The monastic robe symbolizes renunciation of attachment to adornment and expresses the intention toward awakening. The rules concerning possession, giving, and requesting back robe cloth reflect the principle of allowability, lawful usability, and the non-greedy spirit of the Sangha’s activity.
Main Content
Cīvaraacchindana regulates the cases in which a monastic has the right to request back, or reclaim, robe cloth that has been given to another. This discourse establishes the specific conditions under which requesting it back does not violate the Pātimokkha and still accords with the principles of practice.
According to the rule, a monastic may request robe cloth back in certain situations: when the recipient does not observe some agreed condition, or when it is felt that the donated property is not being used for the proper purpose of practice. However, the request must be made skillfully, without causing distress or anger, and it must follow the appropriate procedure within the monastic community.
The discourse emphasizes that this process is not an act of greed or anger, but a corrective measure to protect the integrity of the practice. The goal is to ensure that common property is used for the shared benefit of the community of practice, not for personal purposes or accumulation.
Practical Meaning
Cīvaraacchindana teaches the balance between giving (dāna) and the proper protection of property used in common.
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