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How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:58 pm
by Ytrog
I was wondering about the following: the robes of monks are made for climates like those found in Thailand. How do monks in more moderate climates deal with the winter when snow is falling and such?
Is something extra allowed? I don't find anything helpful on this in the Patimokkha. Although they mention out-of-season robes and blankets
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:01 pm
by LonesomeYogurt
I visited a Thai monastery up in Northern Washington, where it can get quite cold. Most just wore thick shirts underneath, along with caps and wool socks. I'm not sure if this is appropriate in Vinaya terms, but it is the common practice I think.
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:11 pm
by Ytrog
LonesomeYogurt wrote:I visited a Thai monastery up in Northern Washington, where it can get quite cold. Most just wore thick shirts underneath, along with caps and wool socks. I'm not sure if this is appropriate in Vinaya terms, but it is the common practice I think.
Ah, thank you. I couldn't imagine them just not having done something like that.
After some searching I found a passage in the following page:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguide.html wrote:Already during His lifetime, the Buddha made special allowances for different regions (or desa) outside the 'Middle Country' of North India — where He lived and taught. These dealt with both the workings of the Community — for example, a smaller quorum for ordination is allowed in distant parts where there are fewer monks — and practical measures, such as special dispensation for footwear and bathing. (See EV,II,p.173) So there is a precedent for adapting to conditions, but this does not mean the abolishing of any rules
So I think it is appropriate.
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:50 pm
by SDC
I've seen a monk wearing a hoodie. It was awesome. Can't see it being a Vinaya issue, especially considering the monk that was wearing it, but who knows.
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:58 pm
by James the Giant
At cold-weather monasteries I know about, they use "The Great Standards"
They wear lots of thermals, and thicker robes, and boots, and finally enormous saffron-coloured down jackets when they are outside.
Meanwhile, at Dhammapala Kloster in Switzerland, Ajahn Thiradhammo says they didn't want to wear any non-monk clothing, so they experimented with different but still allowable materials for their traditional robes... thick fleecy synthetics, merino wool, etc, but they decided they were too bulky to be practical.
However I understand that Dhammayut monks are quite strict, and even in the west they do not allow such things, they stay very basic and thus have a lot of trouble living in cold climates.
The Great Standards
The Lord Buddha also left us a set of principles that can still be used as a standard to judge new circumstances. These are known as 'The Great Standards.' Properly used they should protect against a wholesale dilution of the Rule.
This is how the Great Standards are formulated:
"Bhikkhus, whatever I have not objected to, saying, 'This is not allowable,' if it fits in with what is not allowable, if it goes against what is allowable, that is not allowable for you.
"Whatever I have not objected to, saying, 'This is not allowable,' if it fits in with what is allowable, if it goes against what is not allowable, that is allowable for you.
"And whatever I have not permitted, saying, 'This is allowable,' if it fits in with what is not allowable, if it goes against what is allowable, that is not allowable for you.
"And whatever I have not permitted, saying, 'This is allowable,' if it fits in with what is allowable, if it goes against what is not allowable, that is allowable for you." (BMC p.27; see also EV, II, p170)
◊ Treated with care, these Great Standards should enable bhikkhus to live according to the Vinaya Rule in, for example, isolated communities in non-Buddhist countries with non-tropical climates. They form a touchstone for modern conditions and substances.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... tml#modern" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:28 am
by Hanzze
Ytrog wrote:I was wondering about the following: the robes of monks are made for climates like those found in Thailand. How do monks in more moderate climates deal with the winter when snow is falling and such?
Is something extra allowed? I don't find anything helpful on this in the Patimokkha. Although they mention out-of-season robes and blankets
Maybe the question is wrong directed. It might be maybe better to ask: "(How better why) does one in robes deal with winter?"
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:25 pm
by Cittasanto
They are not limited to three robes alone, the three robes are the minimum they need.
they are allowed extra material which is determined for specific things and it is usual to see monks in the UK with jumpers or a karate type jacket on.
Edit - Bhikkhus are not to wear lay clothes so it would depend on what is considered lay clothes, and if a compromise could be met to cater for the need for extra warmth/dryness.
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:17 am
by appicchato
Robes (in Thailand, anyway) can be obtained that are made with heavier/thicker material...
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:59 am
by LonesomeYogurt
Cittasanto wrote:They are not limited to three robes alone, the three robes are the minimum they need.
Isn't the possession of two sets of robes nissaggiya pacittiya?
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:15 am
by gavesako
Here is a good overview of how the Buddhist monks' and nuns' robes developed historically and as Buddhism spread to colder climates:
http://buddhism.about.com/od/thefirstbu ... /robes.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/bud ... be_txt.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/bud ... e_pics.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Wearing only the three robes and nothing else is a special ascetic (dhutanga) practice. More robes can be determined as "accessory cloth" which is what most Theravada monks now do.
In colder climates, you really need to have some cloth close to your skin to keep the warmth inside, so woolly jumpers and sweaters and fleece jackets and warm underwear have been used by monks.
Here you can see some photos of Thai monks in Norway:
http://watthainorway.no/Artikler/bilder/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:28 am
by Cittasanto
LonesomeYogurt wrote:Cittasanto wrote:They are not limited to three robes alone, the three robes are the minimum they need.
Isn't the possession of two sets of robes nissaggiya pacittiya?
The three robes being determined as the uttarasanga, antaravasaka and sanghati and other cloth requisites are not these, if the become determined as one of these they need relinquished before the 10th day (if memory serves) but they are not limited to only the three robes.
have a look for extra cloth requisites in the BMC
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 9:34 pm
by Ytrog
Thank you all for the information.
Bhante, how do you deal with it yourself? You aren't exactly living in the hottest climate
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:44 am
by gavesako
It is not a problem wearing lots of extra clothing on one's body, but it does not feel so comfortable especially for meditation. I heard that in Canada, they build the kutis so large that one can do walking meditation inside (being warmed by the wood fire). That sounds like a good idea for cold climates.
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:13 am
by Tom
Hope I'm not too off-topic, but supposedly studies have been performed on Tibetan monks doing tummo that have supposedly scientifically shown that they can raise their body temperatures. Is there a similar practice found in the Theravada community?
Re: How do monks deal with their robes in the winter?
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:23 am
by gavesako
In SE Asian Theravadan countries, it would be more useful to lower one's body temperature in the heat of the day. And I heard of some monks using the wind element kasina practice (focusing on the wind sensations at the nostrils) in order to produce a cool feeling in their body.