Bi Np 1111. Getting an expensive heavy cloak in exchange
Pāli / Sanskrit:Garupāvuraṇa
A nun who asks for an expensive, heavy outer-robe must relinquish it and confess the offense.
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BHIKKHUNĪ NI-NISSAGGIYA PĀCITTIYA 11
On Asking for a Costly Heavy Cloak
Background
This rule appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha—the code of ethical rules for bhikkhunīs. The text was recorded in order to guide the community of female monastics in upholding the spirit of renunciation and relinquishing attachment to material things.
The historical context for this rule concerns a bhikkhunī who had asked for and received a heavy, costly cloak (pāvuraṇa)—an outer garment worn to cover the body. This act reflected attachment to precious material goods, contrary to the vows of a monastic. Accordingly, the Buddha established this rule of cause and consequence as a caution for the entire community of female monastics.
Main Content
According to the Ni-Nissaggiya Pācittiya rule (that is, an offence requiring forfeiture of the object before confession), if a bhikkhunī asks for or requests a heavy cloak (garupāvuraṇa—a heavy, costly cloak) for herself, she commits a Pācittiya offence. What distinguishes this rule from others is that she must not only confess the offence (pāpanissaggiya), but must first forfeit the object (nissaggiya).
Specifically, the act of "asking" (pucchati) is clearly defined: a bhikkhunī may not directly or indirectly request anyone—whether a layperson or a monastic—in order to obtain a heavy, costly cloak. If she wishes to receive such an item, it must come from another person offering it voluntarily, without any request on her part.
"Heavy and costly" (garu) here means of high value or fine quality, referring to items that exceed the standard necessary for ascetic practice. A cloak is one of the essential requisites of a monastic, but requesting one that is "heavy and costly" rather than simple and coarse reflects conceit and attachment.
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