Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 72Robe Size
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sugatacīvara
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Interpretation of the Sugatacīvara Discourse (Robe Size)
Context
The Sugatacīvara discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically to the Pātimokkha section of the Theravāda school. This is one of the detailed regulations concerning property and daily life of bhikkhus. The discourse was formulated in the early period of the Sangha community, when the Buddha was still living and directly guiding his disciples in rules of conduct.
The historical formation of this regulation is connected with specific situations in the life of the Sangha. Bhikkhus needed robes (cīvara) suitable for their practice, but these were not to be luxurious or disorderly. The Buddha therefore laid down clear guidelines concerning the size and use of robes, in order to maintain discipline and ensure suitability in the practice of bhikkhus.
Main Content
The Sugatacīvara discourse gives detailed regulations on the standard size of robes used in the Sangha community. The robes of bhikkhus must have certain dimensions - not too large, not too small - so as to be suitable for daily life and religious practice. This is not an arbitrary regulation, but reflects a balance between essential need and the spirit of the Buddhist discipline.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, bhikkhus are permitted to own three robes (ti-cīvara): the upper robe (uttarāsaṅga), the lower robe (antaravāsaka), and the outer robe (saṅghāti). Each robe must meet certain standards of size to ensure propriety. If a robe is too broad or too narrow, it causes inconvenience in alms-round, daily life, and religious ceremonies.
This discourse also makes clear that observing these standards is part of sīla, the discipline, a core component of the Buddhist path of practice. Sīla concerns not only action and speech but also the details of material life, because every human action has the capacity to affect the mind and one’s spiritual practice.
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