Lzh Dg Bi Pm Np 19Asking for Something Else
Pāli / Sanskrit:Aññaviññāpana
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Aññaviññāpana Scripture: Asking for Something Else
Background
The Aññaviññāpana scripture is an important pericope from the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially from the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha section (the disciplinary rules for female bhikkhus). This scripture belongs to one of the oldest parts of the teaching, where the Blessed Buddha and the Sangha established the legal framework of practice for the community of ordained disciples.
The context of the scripture arose from specific cases encountered by female bhikkhus in the community. This is not a profound Dharma sermon, but a detailed regulation of conduct, intended to clarify situations in which a person who has received ordination may violate the rule by "asking for something else"--that is, trying to obtain something not permitted through indirect or non-explicit means.
Main Content
The Aññaviññāpana scripture concerns a basic ethical principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: honesty and purity. When a female bhikkhu violates a disciplinary rule, what matters is the nature of the intention (cetanā) behind the action. This scripture addresses the case in which someone tries to obtain a forbidden thing by asking for "something else"--that is, evading the rule through words.
A typical example: a female bhikkhu is not allowed to receive money (jātarūpa), but if she asks someone to bring money to her by saying "bring me something else" while in reality she wants money, this action is still considered a violation. The reason is that her true intention (anumodanā) is still directed toward obtaining the forbidden thing, even though she conceals this under words.
This principle reflects a deep philosophy of early Buddhism: not only outward action, but inward intention is the cause of karma. An action is considered a violation of discipline when three factors converge: the prohibition exists (pārājika), the prohibited object is present (ārammaṇa), and the intention to perform it exists (cetanā).
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