Xct Mu Bu Vb Np 3Out-of-Season Robe Cloth
Pāli / Sanskrit:Akālacīvara
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The Akālacīvara Sutta (Out-of-Season Robe Cloth)
Background
The Akālacīvara Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravāda tradition, in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga section of the code for female monastics. The Vinaya Piṭaka records the ethical and disciplinary rules established by the Buddha for the Sangha, including the community of female monastics (Bhikkhunī Sangha).
This discourse addresses a specific practical issue: the use of robe cloth (cīvara) outside the prescribed season. In Theravāda Buddhism, monastics are permitted to keep only the three official robes at certain times of year, usually around the rains retreat (vassa). The question arises: if a female monastic needs robe cloth outside this period, is she permitted to receive it? And what conditions must be observed?
This discourse reflects the practical spirit of Theravāda Buddhism: rules of discipline are not absolute in a rigid sense, but may be adjusted according to circumstances, provided that the spirit of the Dharma is protected.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Pitaka, the matter of out-of-season robe cloth (akālacīvara) is handled through the principle of “bhaya” (fear, danger). If a female monastic fears that she will not have robe cloth to wear, or if severe weather threatens her health, she is permitted to receive or prepare robe cloth outside the prescribed time, provided that this action is reported to the community (Sangha) and approved.
However, the important condition is that the purpose must be legitimate. It must not be from greed, nor in order to accumulate more robe cloth than necessary, but from a genuine need to protect the body and continue the practice. The rule also emphasizes that this approval process must follow the formal procedure of the Sangha, showing that it is not an individual decision but a communal one.
This expresses the principle of balance in the Vinaya: rules are established to support practice, not to create unnecessary hardship.
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