Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 50Travelling by Arrangement
Pāli / Sanskrit:Saṁvidhāna
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Explanation of the Saṁvidhāna Sutta (Traveling by Arrangement)
Background
The Saṁvidhāna Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition, the Pāli Canon. This is the Vinaya section that sets forth principles for managing the community of monks and nuns, especially regarding monastic movement, residence, and daily life.
This sutta concerns situations in which monastics wish to leave the monastery or dwelling place in order to set out on the road. During the Buddha’s lifetime, monastics often traveled to seek suitable lodging, attend Dharma assemblies, or visit places with good conditions for study and practice. However, such movement needed to follow certain rules in order to maintain discipline and responsibility toward the community.
The term “Saṁvidhāna” (arrangement, agreement) indicates that traveling is not absolute freedom, but requires consensus and agreement between the individual monastic and the monastery leader or senior members of the community. This reflects the Buddhist ethic of collective responsibility and respect within the Sangha.
Main Content
The Saṁvidhāna Sutta lays down that when a monastic intends to leave the dwelling place and go on a journey, that person must follow certain steps. First, the monastic must make clear the purpose and expected duration to the leader or those assigned responsibility for managing the monastery.
Specifically, one should not leave silently without reporting. This avoids causing worry in the community, while allowing the Sangha leaders to know the personnel situation and arrange work appropriately. If necessary, the monastic may be assigned duties or given instruction before departure.
The sutta also addresses conduct while traveling. The monastic must fully preserve the rules of the bodhisattvas or of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, and must not take the prohibitions of the Vinaya lightly merely because one is on the road. Furthermore, one should maintain communication or report when possible, especially on long journeys or when traveling to other regions.
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