dhutanga tecívarika

Meaning of the tecívarika dhutaýga

The Pali term "ticívara" means "three robes", that is to say the robe of the bottom (antaravásaka), the upper robe (uttarásaýga) and the double robe (saýghá†i).

"ti" = "three pieces"; "cívara" = "robe (utilised by a bhikkhu)"

The bhikkhu who confines himself to utilise only three robes is called a "tecívarika". When this practice is appropriately carried out, with steadiness and diligence, with the determination of not to break it, we say that there is "tecívarikaýga " (spirit underlying a use limited to three robes).

The bhikkhu who adopts the dhutaýga tecívarika must, apart from his three robes, renounce to any other piece of cloth whose surface corresponds to the one of a cloth requiring a determination (thus a minimum of a cubit and a span in length by a span and six phalanxes in breadth).

Adoption of the tecívarika dhutaýga

In order to adopt this dhutaýga, it is convenient to utter the following phrase whether in Pali, or else in the language of one's choice...

In Pali:

«catuttha cívaraµ pa†ikkhipámi, tecívarikaýgaµ samádhiyámi.»

In English:

«I renounce to a fourth robe, I will train into utilising only three robes.»

The three kinds of practitioners of the tecívarika dhutaýga

According to restrictions, there do exist three kinds of practitioners of the tecívarika dhutaýga:

1. ukka††ha tecívarika, the noble practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga
2. majjhima tecívarika, the intermediate practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga
3. mudu tecívarika, the ordinary practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga

1. the noble practitioner

When the bhikkhu who is a noble practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga washes his robes, he is dressed with his bottom robe (around the waist) while he washes his upper robe, and he is dressed with his upper robe (folded in two and around his waist) while he washes his bottom robe. After (or before) only, it is convenient that he washes his double robe. It is good not to wear the double robe around the waist.

The bhikkhu who practises the tecívarika dhutaýga should be cautious in following the above indicated procedure, if he lives in a monastery close by (or within) a village. Only the bhikkhu who is practising the tecívarika dhutaýga who lives in a bush monastery (on a spot remote from inhabited areas) can, if there is no one except himself, simultaneously wash or dye his robes. However, in this situation, in case such a bhikkhu may be seen by someone, it is convenient that he retains, close by himself, one of his three robes in order to easily hide his own body.

Such is the practice of the noble practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga.

2. the intermediate practitioner

The bhikkhu who is an intermediate practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga can have an extra robe, which he utilises only for and at time of washing or dyeing his robes. The rest of the time, this extra robe should be set apart.

3. the ordinary practitioner

When he washes or dyes one of his three robes, the bhikkhu, who is an ordinary practitioner of the tecívarika dhutaýga, can wear the following cloths: the robe of a bhikkhu who agrees to lend it to him, the cloth that he is utilising as a cover, the cloth utilised as the cover of another, a breadth of fabric measuring a span in breadth by three cubits in length. In no wise should the bhikkhu practising the dhutaýga tecívarika wear some extra cloth apart from the washing and dyeing of his own robes. He cannot transport other cloths along with him either (while travelling, etc.)

The merits of the tecívarika dhutaýga

By practising the tecívarika dhutaýga, one can benefit with the following merits...

1. Such as a bird that flies to other spots, one can easily travel, without being embarrassed by many belongings.
2. There are only a few stains (washing, drying, etc.)
3. We are spared by any putting away and storage of clothes.
4. A light maintenance of one's body is required.
5. We are spared from attachment to any robe exceeding the three needed.
6. As we utilise only three robes, we do have but means of livelihood reduced to the least.

Note: Only the practice of a dhutaýga enables to truly understand its merits.

The way to break the tecívarika dhutaýga

As soon as a bhikkhu practising the dhutaýga tecívarika utilises a fourth robe (apart from the laundering of one of his three robes), he breaks his dhutaýga.

Exceptional authorisation given to the practitioners of the tecívarika dhutaýga

A bhikkhu who doesn't practise the dhutaýga tecívarika is authorised to set apart cloths for a period not exceeding ten days. He is liable to finish off his stritching work, the teinture and the determination of a robe during the ten days alloted to him. If, after having completed his robe, he sets apart some cloths beyond this period, he commits a nissaggiya pácittiya. He must then abandon them among a bhikkhu well versed into the vinaya, and should not keep these cloths any longer.

A bhikkhu who practises the dhutaýga tecívarika is authorised to exceed this ten days period. In this case, he doesn't commit the nissaggiya 1. As soon as the stritching and the dyeing of his robe are completed, he is not supposed to keep some extra cloths. If in these conditions, he keeps some extra cloths beyond ten days, or if he adopts this dhutaýga for the sole purpose of keeping non-stritched cloths for a period exceeding ten days, he is called a «dhutaýga cora», that is to say a "robber of dhutaýga".