Significance and value of cassock

"cassock" is Sanskrit, and it was not until Ge Hong wrote the word garden in the Jin Dynasty that it was changed to "cassock". The cassock is also called wild cassock, or garosa drag, which translates as "turbid, bad color, abnormal color, red color" or "dyed".

The cassock is the vestment of monks and nuns, which is named after the color of the clothes. So it can also be called "dirty clothes" or "dirty clothes". Because of the sewing method of cassock, the cloth should be cut into pieces before sewing; So it can be called "chop suey" or "tailoring". The "cassock" was sewn by Ananda according to the 40th law of quadruple and random karma, under the guidance of Buddha, imitating the shape of paddy field. Shi Tian grows grain to make a living. In the field of vestments, long-term cultivation of dharma wisdom is worthy of Futian in the world; So it is also called "Tianxiangyi" and "Futian Yi".

The system of "cassock" also has certain truth and significance. First: India is located in the tropics and people wear white clothes. Buddhism requires clothes to be dyed to distinguish monks from customs. Second: white vulgar clothes are more vivid; The color of the cassock is not good, not good-looking. Third: Cutting and sewing can be sold as Du Fangdian and cannot be used for other purposes. Fourth: Contamination and chop suey can remove the psychology of loving beauty. Fifth: Cutting and dyeing can prevent thieves from taking clothes.

Although "cassock" is named after "color", there are different opinions on its color. Now let's introduce the following basic and main statements:

Article 16 of the quartering method says: There are three kinds of bad colors: blue, black or magnolia, which can be dyed at will. The fifteenth verse of the Ten Psalms says: Green, mud, or sissy, three bad colors.

According to the ninth law of five points, the eighteenth law of Maha Monk, the eighth sutra of Bodhi Mother, the eighth sutra of Sabodo, the thirty-ninth sutra of Benayye and the ninth sutra of 11 karma, they are all said to be three evil colors. The three colors are cyan, black (or "mud color and soap color") and magnolia (or "alizarin color, overlapping color, red, multicolor and uneven color"). These three colors are the colors of cassock.

There is an explanation for the so-called "bad color": "blue-black magnolia" is "bad color" Any color worn by a bhikkhu can be regarded as "like the law". Another explanation is that "green, black and magnolia" must be mixed together to be considered "bad color" Another explanation is that five colors, such as cyan, must be mixed together to be considered as "bad colors". For example, Brahma, a Buddhist monk, said, "cassock" and the cloud "is not in color". When five colors, such as cyan, are mixed with each other and dyed into unhealthy colors, they are called "bad colors".

The eighth volume of "The Sutra of Piniema" says: "The monk's clothes are faded, and the Buddha's ears are stained with ten colors: one is mud, the other is Shiva's skin, the third is Shiva's skin, the fourth is non-grass, the fifth is Ganduo, the sixth is walnut root, the seventh is Amogoku, the eighth is Bafatuo's skin, the ninth is Shiva's skin, and the tenth is variegated."

There are still some explanations about the color of cassock, so I can't introduce them more for the time being. To sum up, the main purpose of dyeing Buddhist robes is to "destroy their shape and make monks and customs different." For example, the Sanskrit says, "No matter where the country is, the costumes of monks should be different from those of others." .

The material for making cassock is called "body" or "material". On this item, the Buddhist system also has some regulations. According to Article 14 of the Law on Good Knowledge, Vipo Sha. There are six kinds of materials such as Qumo, Gubei, Kunaiye, Chimbora, Dina and Poxingjia. Article 16 of "On Pipa Living in the Sand" quoted six kinds of materials such as "grabbing shells, cooking, eating, drinking, kenaf and white hemp". The seventh material listed in Article 28 of the Maha Monk Law is "Chimbora, Jebel, Chumo, Jiesheye, Ma and Muti". Article 39 of the Four-Part Law contains ten kinds of materials, such as "detaining the house, robbing the shell, Qin postscript Luo, Cha Mo, she □, Ma, Yi, detaining Luo and Luo Berni".

In addition, 10-year-old Neiguan No.4 Division mentioned the name "dung-sweeping clothes" in the 16th Law and the 39th Law. According to the Tibetan scriptures of the Ministry of Ahan, this kind of clothes is made of cloth or other worn-out pieces of cloth that are picked up from the wilderness and put in bags, washed and sewn.

There are three main types of cassock, namely "five clothes, seven clothes and coats", which are collectively called "three clothes". Now they are introduced respectively in the following:

First, "Five Clothes": "Five Clothes" Sanskrit "An Tuohui", literally translated as "Dressing". This dress is made of five pieces of cloth, one is long and the other is short, with a total of ten intervals.

Two, Seven Clothes: Seven Clothes, Sanskrit, Yuduoluo Monk, literally translated as coat. This dress is made of seven pieces of cloth, each piece of cloth is two long and one short, with a total of 21 intervals.

3. "Coat": "Coat" means "Sinhalese" in Sanskrit, which literally means "gathering clothes" or "coat". This dress is divided into nine categories. ——9 items of "poor quality", 1 1 "poor quality" and 13 "poor quality". These three kinds of clothes are both long and short. 15 "poor quality", 17 "medium quality" and 19 "medium quality". These three kinds of clothes are three long and one short. Twenty-one "Shang Xia Pin", twenty-three "Shang Zhong Pin" and twenty-five "Shang Ding Pin". These three kinds of clothes are all four long and one short. These nine-grade coats: nine "inferior coats", each with three squares, a total of 27 squares. There are even 25 "top grades", each of which is four long and one short, totaling 125 intervals.

Usage of "three clothes": "five clothes" are generally used when lying up. Some say it's for work, so it's also called "work clothes". However, in our country, monks and nuns wear Chinese clothes and trousers jackets to work, not "five clothes". "Seven clothes" are used for listening to scriptures, chanting scriptures, ceremonies, or mass gatherings, so they are also called "wearing clothes". The "coat" is used for saying, arguing, karma, or welcoming the king.

According to Article 28 and Article 7 of the Four Divisions of Maha Monks, if the material is thin, two, three and four layers can be stitched together.

The original "cassock" was not equipped with a "clothes hook". Article 40 of the Quadrant Law stipulates: "When a disciple of Sakyamuni enters the White House (a layman), he is afraid that the wind will blow his cassock and fall off his shoulders." . Because of this karma, the Buddha listened to the monks in Xu Zhu and tied the cassock on his left shoulder and chest. Put on a nail hook to fasten the cassock. Later, it evolved into the "Ruyi" shape of the current "clothes hook and clothes ring".

"Three clothes" must be worn three times. Depending on the hot or cold weather, you can wear one, two or three. If it is too cold at night, you can also cover your body with a coat. Another five-point method says: "The Buddha said: When you leave the village and enter the village, if the grass tree is torn, the soil will sink the leaves (the leaves are clothes), or the clothes will be exposed in the sun and the robes will be turned out. If the clothes are easy to wear, listen to the clothes upside down and buckle the hook up and down. "

In addition to "three clothes", there is another kind called "golden cassock" or "golden robe"; This cassock is actually a kind of coat. However, its material is very precious, and it is made of gold thread. There are different opinions about the origin of this "witch hazel". According to the inscription on the statue of Zhangmen in the Zen forest quoted in Han Jing, the "golden robe" was a "cassock" presented to the Buddha by his aunt, Mrs. Mohoboamboti. According to the Sutra of Bodhisattva, the "golden robe" is a "cassock" made of 84,000 gold threads, which was blessed by heaven and man to the Buddha.

The "cassocks" mentioned above are all "vestments" written by monks and nuns. Besides those, there is also a kind of "cassock" called "hoodie". This kind of "vestment" is made of a large piece of cloth, which is used by fledgling monks (nuns) who have not been ordained at home and men and women who have been ordained at home. Because they haven't got the "big precept" of becoming monks, they can't bear to "bless the world". Therefore, the "clothes" they use can't be sewn into "Tianxiang". Also, Sami people are not familiar with the methods of cutting and making clothes, so they put on "pull clothes".

Furthermore, there are certain patterns in dressing, pulling clothes (taking off robes), taking clothes and folding clothes, and at the same time chanting "Barney, Mantra". These ceremonies are explained in detail in Chapter 3 (Dressing Ceremony) of the Buddhist Ritual Description. Here, not much narrative.

Everything mentioned above is related to Fu Tong's regulations on cassock. After Buddhism came to the east, the original image of "cassock" has been somewhat damaged due to the shift of space and the change of time! Today's "cassock": the width is reduced, and the material is more and more flashy; When you use it, you just walk around your body and put it on your shoulders.

Finally, I need to remind you of the advantages of cassock. -according to the altar motto, "five clothes show greed, and cleanliness is also an industry. Seven rags, clean mouth. Clothes and fields, how long and how short, indicate the increase or decrease of saints. And the table is broken, and the net meaning is also. According to the "Sad China Sutra", "When the Buddha is in front of the Buddha and wishes to become a Buddha, the cassock has five merits. One: Entering the French Open and committing serious crimes such as Jaken; In a moment, respect for the heart will be remembered in three transgressions. Celestial Dragons Ghost, if you can respect this cassock and score less points, you will get three times and never come back. Three: "if there are ghosts and gods, people will have to take cassock or even four inches and have enough to eat." Four: If all beings violate it, they should pay attention to their cassock and seek mercy. Five: Hold this (cassock) less points, respect it, and always win him. " (Excerpt from Stone Summary)

"The Great Nirvana Sutra" says: "The dragon gets the cassock, each wears less points, and the golden-winged bird is free." The Ten Round Scriptures of Tibet said: "There was a prisoner who was sentenced, tied up and abandoned in the wilderness. Pointing at the cassock above your head can save you from ghosts. " Its cloud says: "Monks are not here, but macaques are playing cassock;" Jump for joy and fall into the valley, and life will eventually be born in heaven. Ninety years after the robbery, the picture of the world. " Agama said, "The worn-out cassock hangs in the wilderness and mountains. If people, livestock, birds and beasts meet, there will be good news and good news. "

The cassock is a symbol of Buddhism and the form of a saint. Is it unusual to compare its advantages and disadvantages? I don't blame the emperor shunzhi, the Lord of the Qing Dynasty, for praising him, saying that "gold and jade are not expensive, but robes are the most difficult." !