Bi Np 1414. Staying apart from one’s robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Udosita
A nun who stays apart from any of her five robes for more than one day must relinquish the robe and confess the offense.
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Udosita: The Rule on Robes for Nuns
Background
The Udosita (Pāli: Udosita, meaning "separated" or "apart") is found within the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha — the code of rules designated specifically for female monastics in the Pāli Canon. It forms an important part of the Vinaya Piṭaka, established by the Buddha Gotama for the purpose of maintaining discipline and harmony within the community of nuns.
It should be noted that, in the Theravāda tradition, a bhikkhunī is prescribed to possess exactly five sets of robes: the upper robe (uttarāsaṅga), the inner robe (antaravāsaka), the cloak (sabāyika), the sitting mat (ādisambādaka), and the dusting cloth (pādesana). Each set of robes is not merely an article of daily use but also a symbol of frugality, discipline, and the preservation of the true Dhamma. The rules concerning robes in the Pātimokkha reflect the importance of mindfulness in the use of material necessities.
Main Content
The Udosita rule stipulates that if a nun allows even one of her five sets of robes to remain apart from her for more than one day and one night (ekaratti atireka) without a valid reason, this is regarded as an offense requiring acknowledgment and rectification. "Being apart" (udosita) here means not holding, not carrying, or not having within one's control.
This action is classified among offenses of a certain degree of gravity. When a nun discovers that she has transgressed this rule, she must carry out two steps: first, she must voluntarily relinquish that set of robes (atikacchanī parivattabba), returning them to the community or disposing of them in accordance with the prescribed regulations; second, she must publicly confess the offense (pāpañña-) before the community of monastics or the relevant individuals.
The rule does not enumerate detailed exceptions; however, according to the general context of the Vinaya, if there is an objective reason — such as illness, a special matter of practice, or the permission of one's preceptor or teacher — an exception may be permitted. Nevertheless, the fundamental principle is one of care and discipline in the management of those possessions one is permitted to hold.
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