Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 15Leaving Bedding Outside

COMMENTARY ON THE SEYYASANTHĀRANA

Background

The Seyyasanthārana belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Theravāda tradition, specifically as one of the rules in the Pācittiya section — offenses of a minor nature requiring confession. This rule is recorded in the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga, under the regulations of the fifteenth Pācittiya, which concerns the leaving of bedding outside.

During the time of the Buddha, the Sangha consisted of monastics who lived in simplicity, relying upon requisites offered by the fourfold assembly of disciples. Items such as beds, seats, mattresses (seyyā), and spreads (santhāra) were the communal property of the monastic community and were to be honored and carefully maintained. Carelessness in the keeping of such articles not only reflected a lack of mindfulness but also caused damage to property that had come into being through the faith of donors.

This rule was laid down by the Buddha upon observing that certain bhikkhus were negligent in caring for monastic articles, leaving bedding outside where it was soaked by rain, baked by sun, or otherwise damaged — resulting in the waste of property belonging to the Triple Gem.

Main Content

The fifteenth Pācittiya rule stipulates: Should a bhikkhu depart from, or cause another to depart from, a Sangha lodging, leaving behind a bed, a chair, or a spread of mattress outside without storing it away, without asking another to store it, or without informing anyone — he commits a Pācittiya offense requiring confession.

The essential principle of this rule is personal responsibility in the care of communal property. When making use of a bed, mat, or seat belonging to the Sangha, the bhikkhu has an obligation to ensure that these articles are safely stored before he departs. This is of particular importance when items are left outside, where they are easily affected by weather or other damaging conditions.

There are three ways to avoid committing this offense:

• Storing the articles oneself by bringing them to a sheltered place
• Asking another person to keep them when one must depart in haste
• Informing another bhikkhu so that he may attend to the matter

The Pācittiya offense is constituted when all the following factors are present: the articles are Sangha property, they have been left outdoors, the bhikkhu departs without having performed one of the three actions above, and he does so with clear awareness of what he is doing. Should the offense be committed, confession must be made before the Sangha in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

Practical Significance

Although this is a rule intended for bhikkhus, the teaching contained in the Seyyasanthārana carries profound meaning for all Buddhist practitioners.

First, it is a lesson in mindfulness in everyday action. The act of remembering to store away one's belongings reflects the vigilant state of the mind. When one lives in mindfulness, nothing — however small — is neglected.

Second, the rule teaches reverence for property that arises from faith. Every article within a monastery comes from the merit of donors' offerings. To care for such things is to honor the goodwill of those who give, and to create a field of merit for them.

Third, this is an expression of communal responsibility. Within the Sangha, each individual is a part of the whole.