Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 23Transferring to Another
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vikappana
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The Vikappana Sutta (On the Transfer of Requisites)
Background
The Vikappana Sutta is found within the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically in the Patimokkha Bhikkhuni Vibhanga—the code of training rules for Bhikkhunis (nuns). It is one of the Pacittiya offenses (minor transgressions) established by the Buddha to protect the discipline of the Bhikkhuni community and to maintain the purity of monastic practice.
The circumstances giving rise to this rule concern the handling of material possessions and material benefits within the monastic community of monks and nuns. When a Bhikkhuni receives something—whether cloth for robes, medicine, or any form of support from laypeople—clear regulations are needed regarding whether such items may be "transferred" or "declined." The Vikappana Sutta establishes the ethical principles surrounding the conveyance and transfer of ownership of such items.
Main Content
The Pāli word "vikappana" means "transfer" or "alternative designation"—referring to the act of a Bhikkhuni intentionally declining or handing over items that have been given to her. This rule is concerned with situations in which a Bhikkhuni receives requisites (paccaya) that may not be suitable for her, or that she wishes to pass on to another.
The fundamental principle is that a Bhikkhuni may not transfer items at her own discretion; she must first give proper notification or carry out the correct procedure. If a Bhikkhuni receives items but does not perform the transfer procedure correctly, or attempts to assist another in making a transfer without authorization, this constitutes a Pacittiya offense. This is intended to prevent disputes over ownership, greed, or disturbance within the Bhikkhuni community.
This rule places particular emphasis on transparency—each Bhikkhuni must know precisely what her own possessions are, and must not conceal or secretly convey them to others. This reflects a profound Buddhist value: honesty and the absence of deception in the management of communal property.
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