San Sarv Bu Pm Finot Np 7Accepting Too Many Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatuttari
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Tatuttari Discourse: The Buddha Disciplines a Bhikkhu Who Accepted Too Many Robes
Background
The Tatuttari discourse, Accepting Too Many Robes, belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of rules for communal life in the Sangha established by Buddha Śākyamuni throughout his teaching life. These disciplinary discourses were not punitive intentions, but compassionate instructions to help bhikkhus, male monastics, maintain dignity, moderation, and mindfulness in the renunciant life.
The story in this discourse arose from a specific situation in the Sangha community. A certain bhikkhu violated the basic principle of moderation in receiving robes, the personal clothing-property of monastics. Instead of observing the principle “enough is sufficient,” this bhikkhu greedily accepted too many pieces of robe cloth beyond legitimate need. This was an action contrary to the spirit of renunciation: the spirit of abandoning ambition and turning away from material craving.
The Buddha, perceiving this conduct, intervened directly to educate the bhikkhu and the whole Sangha community about the importance of training in faith, energy, wisdom, concentration, and understanding, the five faculties of Buddhism.
Main Content
In this discourse, the Buddha pointed out that accepting too many robes is a subtle form of greed. Although at first glance it is only a matter of material property, in reality it is an expression of craving, which according to the Buddha’s teaching is the root of suffering.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Buddha established specific rules regarding how many robes the Sangha may appropriately receive. The purpose is so that bhikkhus are not governed by property, and may thereby maintain a relaxed and free mind, focused on the practice of the Noble Path. Robes are only essential articles for covering the body and protecting against cold, not a means to satisfy ambition.
The Buddha also emphasized that restraint of the sense faculties (indriya samvara) begins with small actions in daily life.
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