Toh 1-7Chapter 7: On the Robes

EXPLANATION OF THE SUTRA ON ROBES (Cīvaravastu)

Context

This chapter belongs to the Kangyur in the Northern Buddhist tradition and is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of disciplinary teachings for the practice of the Mahāyāna Buddhist community. Cīvaravastu (Pāli), or “Aibālavatthu” (Sanskrit), means “the section concerning robes,” and is one of the foundational chapters of the Vinaya.

The setting of its composition is directly connected with Buddha Śākyamuni and the Sangha in the early period of Buddhism. When bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs began to practice according to the Buddha’s teaching, questions concerning practical necessities, especially monastic dress, became essential. Robes are not merely a material need; they are also a symbol of renunciation, of cutting off attachments to the weary world of dust.

The chapter on robes was compiled in order to provide clear guidance so that monks and nuns might act in accordance with the rule and avoid what is unsuitable to the nature of renunciation and pure practice.

Main Content

The chapter “On Robes” in the Cīvaravastu gives detailed regulations concerning the clothing of bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs. The sutra teaches that the robes of renunciants should be simple, durable, and not splendid. The monastic robe (Saṅghāṭi, Pa-tha-ma-kra-ma) consists of three pieces of cloth woven from natural fibers, usually brown, blue, or pale yellow, colors that avoid brilliance and ostentation.

The sutra also gives instructions on how to wear the robe, how to fold it neatly, and how to preserve it from damage. These rules may seem small, yet they reflect a great principle: wakefulness in every action. The practitioner must know that robes protect the body from cold and heat, and are not for satisfying desire for beauty or social status.

In addition, the sutra clearly states specific situations: what kind of clothing is appropriate when teaching the Dharma, when practicing meditation, and when going on alms round.