Lzh Mg Bi Pm Pc 90Stingy With Families
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kulamaccharinī
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SUTTA ON STINGINESS TOWARD FAMILIES (Kulamaccharinī)
Background
Early Buddhism, within the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, records the rules applicable to bhikkhunīs. The Kulamaccharinī Sutta, or "Stinginess Toward Families" (commonly translated as "Stingy With Families"), is found in the Pātimokkha (Pāli) — the list of 227 or 311 precepts depending on the school. It is one of the paccayas — principles governing conduct in order to maintain discipline and purity within the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha.
The compositional context of this sutta arises from the case of a bhikkhunī who was unwilling to support or share what she had with other members of the community, or who was even negative in her connections with lay families. The Buddha recognized that greed, constriction, and possessiveness could undermine the harmony of the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, and therefore established these teachings as a safeguard.
Principal Content
This sutta concerns the matter of bhikkhunīs not being excessively greedy or miserly (maccharī) in their interactions with lay families or with other members of the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha. "Maccharī" (greed, miserliness) is a fault that the Buddha regarded as contrary to the spirit of the Path. It encompasses keeping one's possessions secret, unwillingness to share knowledge, or maintaining a possessive attitude toward one's relationships with lay persons.
Within the Vinaya Piṭaka, this sutta reminds bhikkhunīs that they should maintain generosity, openness, and a readiness to cooperate with their fellow practitioners. Whatever one may have — whether food, robes, or knowledge — a bhikkhunī should hold a mind of sharing rather than keeping things to herself. This is not merely ethical counsel but also an explicit rule within the Pātimokkha — violating it may lead to the requirement of confession or sanction within the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha.
The sutta also focuses on the relationship between bhikkhunīs and lay families.
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