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December 16th, 2009, 10:32

I know this is a bad line of thought but I have always wondered what monks wear under their robes...?

You've already got the thai boys in robes! Wonder what they wear under those robes?
The answer? Here is some teaching material for your self-study:

http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/things/monks_robes_hats.htm

Tricivara (Wikipedia)
The tricivara or ticivara (from ti: three, civara: robe) is the traditional Buddhist monastic garment, and is often worn by the Buddha. It is composed of three different elements:
the lower robe, or undergarment (the antaravasaka)
the upper robe (the uttarasanga)
the outer robe (the sangati)
The tricivara garment is described in Vinaya rules (Vin 1:94 289). From the 1st century CE, it is regularly used in representations of the Buddha, with the sangati usually the most visible garment, and the undergarment or uttarasanga protruding at the bottom. The uttarasanga is usually barely visible within the folds of the sangati.
Other items worn with the tricivara were:
a waist clothe, the kushalaka
a buckled belt, the samakaksika

Chaste as we are we begin with a correcly dressed monk:

3. sanghati, sangkhati (р╕кр╕▒р╕Зр╕Жр╕▓р╕Пр╕ ┤)

┬╗Sangkati (Shoulder Scarf): It is a long thick brownish-yellow scarf and regarded as a monk's multipurpose cloth. A monk can use this Sangkati as a blanket in winter. During a long trip or visit, this thick Sangkati can be folded and used as a cushion. In general, during a ceremony at the temple, one end of the Sangkati is on the floor and the other end is on the monk's shoulder whenever he bows to the floor in front of the Buddha image.┬л
http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/images/b/buddhistceremony34.jpg
Phra Farang remarks: ┬╗For religious services inside the monastery, the monk also wears an additional robe (sanghati) which is folded in a very particular way into a long rectangle and hung over the left shoulder. ┬л
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2. [a)] Outer robe: civara, jivorn, chiwon (р╕Ир╕╡р╕зр╕г)

┬╗Jeeworn (Mantle Robe): In the ancient days, the monks collected pieces of cloth from graveyards. These pieces were supposed to cover the dead bodies. Once the dead bodies were cremated, the sheet covers were left over. Choosing the simple life, monks collected those sheet covers and later cleaned them with water. The size was insufficient, in the old days. Several different pieces had to be sewn together in one piece. This large piece was then dyed with some tree root extract or saffron (a common spice in the Himalayan region) to get a brownish-yellow color. As more and more men became followers, Lord Buddha rejected any patched-together "Jeeworn" that lacked neatness. One day he assigned Ananda, his cousin and one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, to create a neat design for the Jeeworn. Ananda looked out at the lowland rice fields in Makoth (Magadha) city and he was impressed by the neatness of chess board-like rice fields. Based on this idea, several pieces of material were cut and sewn into one piece. Once Lord Buddha inspected the whole piece, he deemed it appropriate and approved the design. Whenever a monk leaves his temple or monastery, the Jeeworn must cover the whole body. Meanwhile whenever he is at his temple, he wears the same Jeeworn but leaves the right shoulder uncovered. Any time the Jeeworn is seen now, it reminds us of the colours of the earthen dykes around the rice fields of Makoth city.┬л
http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/images/b/buddhistceremony31.jpg
[2 b)] Not sure about this: Sleeveless one-shouldered waistcoat (ungsa)
┬╗On the top part of his body, under the jivorn, is worn a sort of sleeveless one-shouldered waistcoat (ungsa) which is joined together on the left side by tying tags.┬л [Phra Farang]
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1. Under-robe or lower robe or undergarment: antaravassaka (Pali), sabong (р╕кр╕Ър╕З)

┬╗Sabong ( Sarong): This is a simple, unadorned sarong of brownish-yellow color. The size of this Sabong is much smaller than the size of the Jeeworn. The Sabong is regarded as the most important garment of Buddhist monks because it must be worn 24 hours a day.┬л
http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/images/b/buddhistceremony32.jpg
┬╗Prakod (Cotton Belt or Girdle): This is not like an ordinary belt but is rather a wide thick brownish-yellow waist band. The main purpose of the Prakod is to secure the Sabong safely.┬л
http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/images/b/buddhistceremony33.jpg
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Under their robe is...another robe. You know, eternal recurrence, circle of life. robe after robe to infinity.
0. We could touch the silky Thai skin now!

Can we resist the temptation if we imagine that we see a fabric that looks exactly like silky Thai skin?
No, because Buddhists would hate to look naked when they are in fact dressed.

Source: http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/budd ... ies_3.html (http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/buddhist_ceremonies_3.html)
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http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/robe_pics.htm

There are YouTube videos, of course, but I could not find again that one which begins with the undergarment. By the way, it is punishable in Thailand to dress up as a monk.

http://www.thaidbmarket.com/uploads/20090730-141550-.jpg

┬╗The following extract comes from "Phra Farang" by Phra Peter Pannapadipo. He talks about life as a new monk and the difficulties dealing with putting on the robes and going outside for the first time.

The first thing any new monk needs to know is how to dress himself. I had exchanged clothes kept up and held together by zips, belts, buttons, press-studs and Velcro for a large rectangle of cotton and unless it was actually tied in a knot somewhere, I couldn't see how it could stay on. Often mine didn't. It didn't only fall off, it actually seemed to leap off me.┬л

PLEASE READ THE FULL STORY HERE: http://www.thaibuddhist.com/phra_farang.htm

Monk = bhikkhu (Pali), bhiksu (Sanskrit)

Here are some simple rules how to use your robe:

The Patimokkha
The Bhikkhus' Code of Discipline
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Part One: The Robe-cloth Chapter

1. When a bhikkhu has finished his robe-making and the frame is destroyed (his kathina privileges are in abeyance), he is to keep an extra robe-cloth ten days at most. Beyond that, it is to be forfeited and confessed.

2. When a bhikkhu has finished his robe-making and the frame is destroyed (his kathina privileges are in abeyance): If he dwells apart from (any of) his three robes even for one night -- unless authorized by the bhikkhus -- it is to be forfeited and confessed.

3. When a bhikkhu has finished his robe-making and the kathina privileges are in abeyance: If out-of-season robe-cloth accrues to him, he may accept it if he so desires. Once he accepts it, he is to make it up immediately (into a cloth requisite). If it should not be enough, he may lay it aside for a month at most if he has an expectation for filling the lack. Should he keep it beyond that, even when there is an expectation (for further cloth), it is to be forfeited and confessed.

4. Should any bhikkhu have a used robe washed, dyed, or beaten by a bhikkhuni unrelated to him, it is to be forfeited and confessed.

5. Should any bhikkhu accept robe-cloth from a bhikkhuni unrelated to him -- unless it is in exchange -- it is to be forfeited and confessed.

6. Should any bhikkhu ask for robe-cloth from a man or woman householder unrelated to him, except at the proper occasion, it is to be forfeited and confessed. Here the proper occasion is this: The bhikkhu's robe has been stolen or destroyed. This is the proper occasion in this case.

7. If that unrelated man or woman householder presents the bhikkhu with many robes (pieces of robe-cloth), he is to accept at most (enough for) an upper and an under robe. If he accepts more than that, it is to be forfeited and confessed.

8. In case a man or woman householder prepares a robe fund for the sake of an unrelated bhikkhu, thinking. "Having purchased a robe with this robe fund, I will supply the bhikkhu named so-and-so with a robe:" If the bhikkhu, not previously invited, approaching (the householder) should make a stipulation with regard to the robe, saying, "It would be good indeed, sir, if you supplied me (with a robe), having purchased a robe of such-and-such a sort with this robe fund" -- out of a desire for something fine -- it is to be forfeited and confessed.

9. In case two householders -- men or women -- prepare separate robe funds for the sake of a bhikkhu unrelated to them, thinking, "Having purchased separate robes with these separate robe funds of ours, we will supply the bhikkhu named so-and-so with robes": If the bhikkhu, not previously invited, approaching (them) should make a stipulation with regard to the robe, saying, "It would be good indeed, sirs, if you supplied me (with a robe), having purchased a robe of such-and-such a sort with these separate robe funds, the two (funds) together for one (robe)" -- out of a desire for something fine -- it is to be forfeited and confessed.

10. In case a king, a royal official, a brahmin or a householder sends a robe fund for the sake of a bhikkhu via a messenger (saying), "Having purchased a robe with this robe fund, supply the bhikkhu named so-and-so with a robe": If the messenger, approaching the bhikkhu, should say, "This is a robe fund being delivered for the sake of the venerable one. May the venerable one accept this robe fund," then the bhikkhu is to tell the messenger: "We do not accept robe funds, my friend. We accept robes (robe-cloth) as are proper according to season."

If the messenger should say to the bhikkhu, "Does the venerable one have a steward?" then, bhikkhus, if the bhikkhu desires a robe, he may indicate a steward -- either a monastery attendant or a lay follower -- (saying), "That, my friend, is the bhikkhus' steward."

If the messenger, having instructed the steward and going to the bhikkhu, should say, "I have instructed the steward the venerable one indicated. May the venerable one go (to him) and he will supply you with a robe in season," then the bhikkhu, desiring a robe and approaching the steward, may prompt and remind him two or three times, "I have need of a robe." Should (the steward) produce the robe after being prompted and reminded two or three times, that is good.

If he does not produce the robe, (the bhikkhu) should stand in silence four times, five times, six times at most for that purpose. Should (the steward) produce the robe after (the bhikkhu) has stood in silence for the purpose four, five, six times at most, that is good.

If he should not produce the robe (at that point), should he then produce the robe after (the bhikkhu) has endeavored further than that, it is to be forfeited and confessed.

If he should not produce (the robe), then the bhikkhu himself should go to the place from which the robe fund was brought, or a messenger should be sent (to say), "The robe fund that you, venerable sirs, sent for the sake of the bhikkhu has given no benefit to the bhikkhu at all. May the you be united with what is yours. May what is yours not be lost." This is the proper course here.

Source: http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/texts/vinaya/bhikkhu-pati.html#5
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/texts/index.html#map

Some more links:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2/bmc2.ch02.html
http://www.tipitaka.org/
http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/
http://www.palitext.com/

http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/texts/index.html#map
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist#Buddhist_texts
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/

The BhikkhuтАЩs Rules. A Guide for Laypeople. The Therav─Бdin Buddhist MonkтАЩs Rules.(162 pages)
Compiled and Explained by Bhikkhu Ariyesako: http://www.bswa.org/PDF/Bhikkhus_Rules.pdf

Corrections welcome - textile terminology, number of items, use?