Bi Sk 1010. Lifting the robes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyaukkhittaka
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COMMENTARY ON THE SCRIPTURE "REINSTATEMENT OF STATUS"
Background
The scripture "Dutiyaukkhittaka," or "Lifting the Robes" (Reinstatement of Status), appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga—the detailed code of rules for bhikkhus. It is one of the regulations concerning proper conduct and the maintenance of collective discipline within the Saṅgha community.
The scripture is recorded in the context of bhikkhus engaged in study and practice at monasteries or during communal training gatherings. The act of "lifting the robes" (ukkhittaka) is not a simple gesture but rather an expression of the monastic disciplinary process, relating to the restoration of status for bhikkhus who have transgressed the rules of training.
In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation for preserving the purity of the Buddhadhamma. Each regulation is not a burden or a chain, but rather a mechanism for protecting the spirit of practice, enabling the Saṅgha to function in harmony and the path to remain bright and unblemished.
Main Content
This scripture sets forth the procedure for the restoration of discipline when a bhikkhu has had his status "reinstated"—that is, when he has been temporarily suspended from certain rights by the community due to a transgression of the rules. The act of "lifting the robes" symbolizes the restoration of his monastic standing and his genuine recognition as a member of the Saṅgha.
This procedure requires the offender to sincerely confess and acknowledge his wrongdoing before the assembly (Saṅgha). Thereafter, through a formal meeting of the Saṅgha, with the participation of the minimum number of bhikkhus as prescribed, the decision of restoration is carried out. Without the "lifting of robes" there is no formal reinstatement; and when it does occur, it must be conducted with administrative precision and publicly.
The scripture emphasizes that this process is not punishment but rather "training" (sikkhā)—a mechanism for self-purification and the strengthening of discipline within the Saṅgha community. Adherence to the proper procedure in accordance with the Dhamma is an expression of respect for the Buddhadhamma and a safeguarding of the sanctity of the Saṅgha.
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