San Sarv Bu Pm Finot Pc 90Robe Size

Sugatacīvara Sutta: Regulation on the Size of the Robe

Background

The Sugatacīvara Sutta, concerning the regulation of the size of the robe, appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of Theravāda Buddhism, in the section on Pātimokkha Saṃvara, one of the most basic codes of the bhikkhu community. The content of this discourse records a rule laid down by the Buddha Gotama in order to standardize the size of robes within the monastic community.

According to the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, these regulations arose from specific events. The origin of the Sugatacīvara Sutta is understood as the Buddha’s response to the community’s need for self-regulation. When bhikkhus began sewing robes of different sizes, too wide, too narrow, too long, or too short, this not only affected appearance but also influenced the unity, discipline, and simple wayfaring of the community. The Buddha, with penetrating wisdom, recognized the need to establish a common standard in order to protect the spirit of humility and practice for all bhikkhus.

Main Content

The Sugatacīvara Sutta states that a bhikkhu’s robe must follow certain standards of length and width. Specifically, the robe should not be too long, to avoid wasting cloth and making movement difficult, nor too short, so that the body is properly covered. Likewise with its width, the robe should fit the body, neither overly loose like luxurious worldly clothing nor so tight as to restrict comfort.

These standards are not arbitrary control. They reflect the principle of moderation that the Buddha always emphasized: avoiding the two extremes of sensual luxury and self-mortification. The robe, called cīvara in Pāli, is the symbol of going forth, the outward sign of one who has relinquished the desire for adornment and for displaying social status through clothing.

This discourse also records related violations, namely that actions not in accordance with this rule are regarded as a definite offense within the Pātimokkha system.