Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 59Transferring to Another

The Vikappana Sutta: Transfer (Pāli Canon)

Background

Vikappana (विकप्पन), or “transfer,” is an important rule in the Theravāda Vinaya tradition, found in the Pācittiya section of the Bhikkhu Vinaya. This discourse arose from specific situations in the early Sangha community, when the Buddha and the bhikkhus faced challenges concerning the distribution of property, especially items offered by the people.

The historical background shows that bhikkhus sometimes received unsuitable or duplicate items, and needed a way to transfer them to others who had greater need. This rule was established to maintain the principle of simple living, avoid the accumulation of possessions, and enhance the spirit of cooperation and sharing in the Sangha.

Main Content

Vikappana concerns the right of a bhikkhu to transfer or give away items he has received. According to the Pāli Vinaya rule, a bhikkhu should not accumulate possessions for too long; instead, if there is a surplus item, the bhikkhu may transfer it to someone else according to the prescribed methods.

This rule states that when a bhikkhu receives an item, such as cloth, medicine, or living materials, if that item is not suitable for his own use, he may transfer it to another bhikkhu without violating the Vinaya. However, this transfer must observe certain conditions: it must be public, not handed over privately to one person, but transferred according to the proper procedure of the Sangha.

This right of “transfer” reflects the Dharma principle that bhikkhus are members of a shared community, where material things are regarded as more communal than personal. This rule is also intended to avoid disputes or jealousy arising from the storage or private monopolizing of possessions.

Practical Meaning

For bhikkhus practicing according to the Pāli Vinaya, Vikappana is a tool for training in renunciation (nekkhamma) and relinquishment (vossagga).