San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Np 5Receiving Robe Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvarapaṭiggahana
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THE SUTTA ON RECEIVING ROBE-CLOTH (CĪVARAPAṬIGGAHANA)
Background
The Cīvarapaṭiggahana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically to the Pātimokkha, the list of fundamental disciplinary rules that monastics must observe. The content of the teaching is directly related to the management and use of the robe (cīvara) of bhikkhus.
The historical basis of this rule arose from specific situations in the monastic community during the Buddha’s time. Monks sometimes took advantage of receiving robes, the most important material possession of one gone forth, in order to gain benefit, compete, or accumulate without restraint. This violated the spirit of “having little and needing little” (appicchatā) and “contentment” (santuṭṭhi), which Theravāda Buddhism highly values.
To maintain discipline and orient the mind toward purity, the Buddha issued specific regulations on how robes should be received, kept, and used. The Cīvarapaṭiggahana Sutta records these rules, helping monastics distinguish proper conduct from violations in the process of receiving offerings of robe-cloth.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya tradition, the Cīvarapaṭiggahana Sutta states that receiving robe-cloth, a robe offered in generosity, must follow certain principles. A monk may not receive a robe indiscriminately from anyone, and may not use improper reasons to ask for a robe.
Specifically, the teaching makes clear: if a monk receives a robe for the purpose of trade, or receives it and then sells it to accumulate money, this is conduct contrary to the discipline. Similarly, if the monk asks someone else to request a robe on his behalf, or hints and implies in order to obtain a new robe when it is not truly necessary, this too is a fault.
By contrast, proper conduct is to receive a robe sincerely, knowing that it is an offering from the compassionate heart of someone who reveres the Buddha-Dharma. The monk receives only what is necessary to protect the body from cold, heat, and insects, not to satisfy greed.
The teaching also emphasizes that the management of robes must be open and transparent.
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