Dhamma Principles › Nuns' Rules: Asking for the King's Own Cloak, and Wearing a Friend's Robe Without Asking
Nuns' Rules: Asking for the King's Own Cloak, and Wearing a Friend's Robe Without Asking
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Nuns' Rules: Asking for the King's Own Cloak, and Wearing a Friend's Robe Without Asking

Catukkaṃsaparamaṃ cetāpetabbaṃ

The nun Thullanandā taught the Dhamma so well that King Pasenadi of Kosala invited her to ask for anything, and she asked for the woollen cloak he was wearing in winter, and later the linen one in summer. People criticised the nuns as greedy, and rules were laid down limiting the price of a cloak a nun may ask for. Another rule arose when a nun took a robe a fellow nun had hung out to dry and wore it on almsround without asking.

7 points

In the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the robe section of the nuns' nissaggiya pācittiya rules opens with the nun Thullanandā, whom the text describes as learned, eloquent, confident and able to speak with good grounds. In the cold season, King Pasenadi of Kosala came to her wearing a costly woollen cloak. She taught him the Dhamma until he was delighted and said, "Tell me whatever you need." She asked for the cloak he was wearing, and he gave it on the spot. In the hot season the same thing happened again with a linen cloak.

Both times people criticised the nuns as greedy and discontented, and the Buddha laid down limits on the price of a cloak a nun may ask for: a heavy cloak up to four kaṃsas, a light cloak up to two and a half kaṃsas.

In the Nakedness section of the nuns' pācittiya rules, a nun returned from almsround, hung out her sweat-soaked robe to dry and went into the dwelling. Another nun took it and wore it on almsround without asking. From this came the rule against wearing another's robe that has not been given or without asking the owner. These are nuns' rules; lessons for laypeople are only applications.

  1. 1

    The king's invitation Vadeyyāsi ayye yena attho

    After hearing the Dhamma, King Pasenadi said to Thullanandā, "Tell me whatever you need." She replied, "If you wish to give, give me this cloak you are wearing." The king gave it at once, paid respects, circled her and left.

    Applying it in daily life

    When someone offers to help after you have helped them, ask only for what you truly need. Don't use their moment of gratitude to ask for more than is fitting.

  2. 2

    People see greed even when the giver is willing Mahicchā imā bhikkhuniyo asantuṭṭhā

    People complained that these nuns were greedy and discontented: how could they ask the king for his cloak? Nuns of few wishes also criticised it. The Buddha rebuked her, saying this does not inspire confidence in those without it.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before accepting or asking for something valuable, consider how onlookers will see it. What is appropriate isn't measured only by the giver's willingness, but by whether it makes people trust you more or less.

  3. 3

    A winter cloak: no more than four kaṃsas Garupāpuraṇaṃ

    The first rule says a nun asking for a heavy cloak, that is, one for the cold season, may ask for one worth at most four kaṃsas, which the rule analysis explains as sixteen kahāpaṇas. Asking for more is a nissaggiya pācittiya; the cloak must be given up to the Saṅgha, a group or one nun. Even believing wrongly that the price was within the limit is still an offence.

    Applying it in daily life

    Setting a ceiling in advance helps a lot, for example a budget for gifts or for the value of what you accept from others, so you don't have to decide in a moment of wanting.

  4. 4

    A summer cloak: no more than two and a half kaṃsas Aḍḍhateyyakaṃsaparamaṃ cetāpetabbaṃ

    In the hot season she asked for the linen cloak the king was wearing, and was criticised in the same way. The second rule says a light cloak for the hot season may be asked for up to two and a half kaṃsas, that is, ten kahāpaṇas.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you've made a mistake once, don't wait to repeat it in another form. Ask whether the earlier lesson applies to the new situation.

  5. 5

    Exceptions, and what the text leaves unexplained Mahagghaṃ cetāpetukāmassa appagghaṃ cetāpeti

    Neither rule is an offence when asking within the limit, asking relatives, asking those who have given an invitation, asking on behalf of others, paying with one's own funds, or when the donor wants to buy an expensive cloak and the nun asks for a cheaper one. Notice that the exceptions include asking those who have given an invitation, although in the origin story the king invited her himself. The text does not explain the difference here, so one should not conclude more than it says.

    Applying it in daily life

    If someone wants to give you something expensive, asking for something more modest isn't rude. It protects the feelings of both the giver and yourself.

  6. 6

    Wearing a friend's drying robe without asking Cīvaraṃ anāpucchā pārupissati

    A nun returned from almsround, hung her sweat-soaked robe out to dry and went into the dwelling. Another nun put it on and went into the village for alms. The owner came out looking for it and, on learning what had happened, complained that someone had worn her robe without asking. The rule forbids wearing another nun's robe that the owner has not given or without asking the owner; it is a pācittiya.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before borrowing something from a roommate or colleague, however close you are, send a quick message first. The owner won't waste time looking for it or feel upset.

  7. 7

    Exceptions for genuine need Acchinnacīvarikāya naṭṭhacīvarikāya āpadāsu

    There is no offence if the owner gives it or is asked first, if one's own robe has been stolen or lost, or in an emergency. The rule does not forbid sharing; it forbids taking without the owner knowing.

    Applying it in daily life

    In an emergency, using someone else's things first is understandable, but once it's over, tell the owner promptly and return them in good order.

Try it in daily life

The cloak story isn't about whether the king was willing. He offered first and gave at once. Yet onlookers saw the one who asked as greedy, because she asked for a valuable thing the giver was wearing at that very moment. An invitation to ask for anything is not a licence to ask without limit.

In everyday life, when a manager, a client or an elder says "let me know if there's anything I can do", ask for what is modest and needed. The trust you gain from asking moderately is worth more than anything you get once.

The robe hung out to dry could happen in any home or office. Something left in a shared space still belongs to someone. A quick word before using it prevents a lot of resentment.

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