Bu Np 2525. Taking back robe-cloth in anger
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaraacchindana
A monk who gives robe-cloth to another monk, but then takes it back in anger, must relinquish it and confess the offense.
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Scripture on the Reclaiming of Robe-Cloth in Anger
Background
Bu Nipāta 25 belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, recording regulations pertaining to robe-cloth (cīvara) — one of the four basic requisites of the monastic life in Theravāda Buddhism. Robe-cloth is not merely a material object serving practical purposes, but also carries symbolic significance with respect to restraint, renunciation, and purity of spirit.
This scripture arises from an event within the monastic community (saṅgha), in which a bhikkhu had given robe-cloth to a fellow bhikkhu with a mind of compassion and gladness, but thereafter, for some reason, his state of mind changed, anger arose within him, and he sought to reclaim the gift. This act constitutes a violation of the training rules, for it reflects a mind that is not yet fully upright, being governed by negative mental states.
Principal Content
When a bhikkhu gives robe-cloth to a fellow member of the Saṅgha with a mind free of retention (chadanaya — the intention of complete relinquishment of ownership), the gift has truly become the property of the recipient. The act of reclaiming robe-cloth in a situation provoked by anger (dosa) — in particular, taking it back without the consent of the recipient — is regarded as a violation of Pārājika (a grave offense entailing defeat) or at minimum of Saṅghādisesa (an offense requiring formal assembly), depending upon the precise circumstances.
The Vinaya clearly stipulates that a bhikkhu who commits this offense must carry out three steps:
First, he must formally abandon the wrongful act by ceasing to continue producing such conduct.
Second, he must return the robe-cloth to its rightful owner.
Third, he must confess the offense before the Saṅgha or before a single accomplished bhikkhu, according to the degree of seriousness involved.
What is of importance is that this confession is not made in order to avoid punitive consequences, but rather to purify the mind, to restore the clarity of the spirit, and to manifest genuine remorse (paṇidhāna — the resolve to make amends).
Practical Significance
Bu Nipāta 25 teaches that in the life of practice, material objects — whether robe-cloth or anything else — are not the central concern.
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