Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 139Not Returning Period Cloth to Sangha
Pāli / Sanskrit:Not returning period cloth to Sangha
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Sutta: Not Returning the Period Cloth to the Sangha
Background
This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, focusing on rules concerning property, especially the requisites of bhikkhus, those who have gone forth, and of the spiritual community. The sutta is recorded under the number Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 139, indicating that it is a specific rule in the Pātidesanīya section, or more precisely in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession.
The historical context of the sutta concerns problems in the management of communal property of the Sangha, the monastic community. In the early period of Buddhism, monastics were provided with necessary requisites for practice, including cloth and garments. The period for using these items was clearly regulated, in order to ensure fairness in the distribution of property and avoid internal disputes. This sutta was established to resolve problems arising when monastics did not return cloth or garments belonging to the Sangha after the period of use had expired.
Main Content
According to the rules of the Vinaya Piṭaka, each bhikkhu is permitted to use cloth or garments provided by the Sangha for a certain period of time. This period is often the rainy season or a specific period of practice. After the period ends, the monastic must return the item to the Sangha or to those managing communal property, so that it can be issued to others or used for common purposes.
The sutta makes clear that if a bhikkhu does not return cloth or garments after the expiration of the permitted period, this is an act that violates the rule (Pācittiya). This violation is not the gravest offense, but it reflects a lack of discipline, lack of respect for communal property, and affects the smooth functioning of the community of practice. The bhikkhu must confess this fault before the community and return the item immediately.
This rule includes an important element: all property of monastics is regarded as property of the Sangha.
🌏 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.