Xct Mu Bi Pm Np 17Taking Back Robe-Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraacchindana
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THE SUTTA ON TAKING BACK ROBES (Cīvaraacchindana)
Background
In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Pitaka records in detail the rules of discipline for the Sangha, especially regulations related to communal property and robes. The sutta “Taking Back Robes” (Cīvaraacchindana) appears in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha section of the Vinaya Pitaka and records an event in the early history of the Sangha.
According to the Vinaya background, this sutta concerns the management of robes, one of the most essential possessions of those who have gone forth. In the Buddha’s time, bhikkhunīs encountered disputes over taking back or retaining robes held in common by the monastery. This situation led to a specific regulation intended to protect fairness and prevent property disputes that could disturb the community of practice.
Main Content
The sutta records that when bhikkhunīs tried to take back robes they had given to the monastery or to other individuals, this caused unnecessary arguments. Some bhikkhunīs thought they had the right to reclaim their property, while others defended the rights of the community.
After the situation was reported to him, the Buddha gave a clear rule. Once a possession, specifically a robe, has been given or accumulated as common property for the Sangha community, it no longer belongs to an individual. Taking back a communal robe without permission is an act that violates the rule (dhamma-bhaya), causing loss of unity and trust in the Sangha.
This rule emphasizes that, after offering robes to the monastery or community, members of the Sangha may not take those possessions back on their own authority. If there is a need, they must ask permission from the proper elder or from the community. This protects equality and avoids greed within the community of practice.
Practical Meaning
This sutta teaches two profound lessons. First, it reflects the fundamental principle of the Vinaya Pitaka: monastics must relinquish personal ownership in order to nurture the spirit of community.
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