I have gratefully received the bolt of fabric for a clerical robe and summer wear. I thank you very much for the donation.

To begin with, food maintains life and clothes cover the body. Therefore, one who gives food to sentient beings will be rewarded with longevity while one who deprives others of food will receive in retribution a short life.

Those who do not give clothes to people will receive their just due of being reborn without clothes. Those in the lower five of the six paths of existence are born without clothes. Only heavenly beings in the six paths are born with clothes on. In particular, among those in the lower five paths, the deer is born not only without clothes but with the ill fate of having its hide skinned as retribution for the sin of robbing others of clothing.

Among the people who practiced giving clothes to others, Nun Sembyaku was born with clothes on. There are many ways of practicing Buddhism, none of which is practiced without clothes. Therefore, Śākyamuni Buddha attained Enlightenment in the clothes given by his foster mother, Nun Mahā-Prajāpatī, and Buddhist monks were allowed to wear the “three robes.” It seems that Buddhist monks with low capacity will not attain the level of arhat without sufficient clothes and food. This is especially so in the Lotus Sūtra, where it is preached that wearing the “robe of the gentle and patient” is the most basic of practices. The sūtra also says that the Buddha protects the practicer of the Lotus Sūtra with clothes. Isn’t this gracious?

Hōe Sho, Writing on Vestments, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 185-186