Things You'll Need:
- Six kinds of cloth
- Six kinds of dye
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Step 1
New Monk in New RobesMake the Buddhist monk's "triple robe," (tricivara). Introduced to the first Buddhist monks by the Awakened One (Buddha), the tricivara consists of an inner waistcloth (antaravasaka), an over garment (uttarsanga), and the outer robe (sanghati). Buddhist nuns wear additional garments.
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Step 2
Monk in SaffronGather "plant fibres, cotton, silk, animal hair (e.g. wool, but not human), hemp, and a mixture of some or all of them." (See Additional Resources)Cut each fabric to create the design of Magadha rice padis.
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Step 3
Cover ofCollect six dyes, "roots and tubers, plants, bark, leaves, flowers and fruits." (Additional Resources) Boil fabrics for sufficient time to absorb dyes. While there is a contemporary tendency for monks in the forest to wear ochre and for those in the city to wear saffron, that was not the Buddha's instructions.
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Step 4
Burmese Monks in OrangeDrape the garments according to one's lineage and according to basic tradition. The universal way to drape the outer robe is the style for gathering alms. The outer robe covers both shoulders and the two upper corners are together, edges tightly bound in a roll. Monks push the roll over the left shoulder, drape down the back and under the armpit, pressed in place the left arm. Part the roll in front and poke the right arm through it.
