Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Np 21An Extra Almsbowl
Pāli / Sanskrit:Patta
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Discourse on an Extra Bowl
Background
This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Theravāda canon, recorded among the regulations concerning daily life in the Saṅgha. Its Pāli title is “Patta,” pointing directly to the subject of the bowl used by bhikkhus to receive food. This bowl is not a forbidden object, but the Buddha set limits on its number and use in order to prevent craving from arising. The story arose from specific incidents: some bhikkhus possessed many bowls, used them for trade, or passed them to one another in improper ways. Such actions reflected a mind lacking contentment and violated the spirit of renunciation; therefore the Buddha gave wise instruction.
In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a set of mechanical rules, but an expression of wisdom and compassion. Each prohibition points out a path by which the mind may be led astray, and each rule contains indirect counsel helping practitioners overcome it.
Main Content
The discourse clearly states that a bhikkhu should possess only one bowl (patta). This bowl is considered an essential requisite, like the robe, not property but an instrument for living according to the discipline. If a bhikkhu possesses an extra bowl, he violates the Pātimokkha, the basic code.
Buddhism teaches that the bowl must not be used to:
- Store, sell, or exchange for private gain
- Distribute according to preference without a lawful reason
- Use as a valuable object to show distinction among bhikkhus
When a bhikkhu has a spare or extra bowl, this creates conditions for desire to arise. That is why the Buddha set the limit: one bowl is enough for one renunciant. If the old bowl is damaged, a new one may be obtained. But an extra bowl may not be kept as private property.
This rule also protects fairness in the Saṅgha. If some bhikkhus have many bowls while others have none, unequal distribution will give rise to jealousy and division. The Buddha wanted the monastic community to live simply and equally, focused on practice rather than possession.
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