Lzh Mg Bu Pm Np 22An Almsbowl With Fewer Than Five Mends
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnapañcabandhana
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Sutta on an Almsbowl With Fewer Than Five Mends (Ūnapañcabandhana)
Background
This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, particularly within the Pātimokkha (the code of monastic rules) of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. These are the rules of discipline that the Buddha established for the Sangha, intended to maintain purity and harmony within the monastic community.
The almsbowl, used by bhikkhus for collecting alms, is both a necessary and sacred object in the Buddhist monastic life. The bowl is regarded as a symbol of simplicity and self-sufficiency in the practice of almsround. However, older bowls are prone to damage, cracking, and breaking, and must be mended in order to preserve their function. This sutta addresses the disciplinary standards pertaining to the use and maintenance of almsbowls that have received a certain number of mends.
The term "Ūnapañca-bandhana" means "fewer than five mends" (Ūna = fewer than, lacking; pañca = five; bandhana = binding, mend). This reflects the Buddhist philosophy of distinguishing degrees of damage and the potential for reusing items employed in practice.
Main Content
According to the regulations set forth in the Vinaya Piṭaka, bhikkhus must use almsbowls of good quality that conform to the standards of the Sangha. When a bowl becomes damaged, it may be mended and continue to be used. Nevertheless, the number and extent of such mends are also subject to strict regulations.
A bowl with "fewer than five mends" (that is, mended fewer than five times) is still considered serviceable for the daily practice of almsround. This demonstrates that Theravāda Buddhism does not take an extreme position regarding the discarding of requisites; rather, it encourages their reasonable and frugal use.
This sutta forms part of the rules governing both communal and personal property within the Sangha. Its purpose is not only to ensure hygiene and safety, but also to cultivate the habit of cherishing the requisites that are used in practice.
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