Xct Mu Bu Pm Np 25Taking Back Robe-Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraacchindana
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Discourse on Taking Back the Robe
Background
The Vinaya Piṭaka consists of the rules of religious training established by Buddha Śākyamuni for the community of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. Among them, the rules concerning the robe (Pāli: cīvara) are considered extremely important, because the robe is not only an item of daily use but also a symbol of renunciation and observance of the Buddhist precepts.
The discourse Cīvaraacchindana (Vietnamese: "Taking Back the Robe") belongs to the Pācittiya Pāli section in the Khuddaka collection of the Vinaya Piṭaka, where violations requiring acknowledgement and confession are recorded. This discourse presents the specific situation in which a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī takes back a robe from another without permission or clear agreement. This context reflects communal life in the Sangha, where property is shared but ownership still needs to be respected according to communal rules.
Main Content
The discourse teaches that if a member of the Sangha arbitrarily takes back a robe being used by someone else, without prior notice or permission, this action is considered a pācittiya offense, a minor violation requiring public confession before the Sangha.
This rule is established on the foundation of the principle of harmony in the Sangha. Although the robe may be communal property or the personal property of a monastic, taking it back must follow proper procedures. If someone needs the robe, that person should inform the one who is keeping it, or arrange the matter appropriately through a leader of the Sangha.
The Buddha taught that actions such as these, though only small details in the life of the Sangha, have a profound effect on communal harmony and discipline. Through these detailed rules, the organization of the Sangha is maintained in order, avoiding disputes and conflicts.
Practical Meaning
The discourse Cīvaraacchindana does not speak only about the material robe, but also teaches a deep lesson about respecting the rights of others and respecting shared conventions.
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