Bi Pc 2323. Unstitching a robe

Commentary on the Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 23: Cīvarasibbana

Background

This rule appears in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (Pali: Bhikkhunī Pāṭimokkha), the code of celibate discipline for nuns, recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The rule is situated among those concerning the handling of communal property, specifically the material belongings of the Saṃgha.

Within the community of nuns during the time when the Buddha was still present in the world, the robe (cīvara) was among the most essential of material possessions. It was not merely monastic attire but also a symbol of renunciation and of commitment to the precepts. The repair and sewing of robes was regarded as an important communal task, often carried out collectively or at the request of others.

The rule of Cīvarasibbana was established to ensure integrity within the community of nuns. It reflects a fundamental principle of the Vinaya: that each member of the Saṃgha bears responsibility toward the others, especially when communal or entrusted property is involved.

Main Content

This rule stipulates that if a nun unstitches the robe of another nun but subsequently does not sew it back together, she must confess this offense in accordance with the regulations of the monastery.

The term "sibbana" (sewing, stitching) and "unstitching" refer to actions connected with the protection and maintenance of another's belongings. The offense arises not from the act of unstitching alone, but from leaving that act unrepaired. This reveals a central concern of Buddhist monastic law: it is not the unintentional act itself that constitutes a transgression, but rather the disregard shown and the failure to take responsibility.

The term "confess" in the context of the Vinaya is not simply a matter of publicly acknowledging a fault, but is a formal process whereby the nun must actively declare the matter before the Saṃgha or a designated member, in order to purify the offense and restore harmony within the community.