Xct Mu Bi Pm Np 7Accepting Too Many Robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatuttari
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
THE TATUTTARI SUTTA: ACCEPTING TOO MANY ROBES
Background
The Tatuttari Sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha. These are rules of discipline for monks and nuns, established by the Buddha Śākyamuni to protect the life of practice and purification within the Sangha.
This sutta arose from a specific situation in the early community of bhikkhunīs. Some female practitioners accepted more robes than were necessary, and this led to problems in property management and disorder in the community of practice. The Buddha, with his wisdom, recognized the heedlessness or greed behind this action and established a rule to regulate the lifestyle of female practitioners.
The term “Tatuttari” means “exceeding the proper measure” or “adding too much,” reflecting the core of the violation: accepting things beyond actual need, contrary to the spirit of humility and renunciation in the path of going forth.
Main Content
In this sutta, the Buddha taught that a bhikkhunī should not accept more than three sets of robes. In the Buddha’s time, three sets were considered the maximum for maintaining a simple way of life. If a bhikkhunī accepts more than three sets, this is regarded as a violation of the Vinaya, with the specific penalty to be determined according to the details of the circumstances.
This rule is not an arbitrary restriction, but part of the wider principle of humility (appaciṇṇutā) and purification through the Dharma (dhammacārikā). The Buddha emphasized that a practitioner who has gone forth should possess only what is necessary for a wholesome life, not out of greed or the agitation of desires.
The sutta also implies that accepting too many robes may reflect a mental state not fully free from greed (rāga) or delight in possessions (bhoga). These are great obstacles on the path of practice leading to nirvana.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.