Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 69Diverting Gains

Diverting Gains — Pariṇāmana

Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 69 | Comparative Vinaya — Chinese | Sectarian Canon · Comparative

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Source Status

The sutta entry numbered Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 69 belongs to the Comparative Vinaya — Chinese, within the system of Sectarian Canon materials according to the comparative method. At present, the full Chinese source text of this clause has not been directly collated in the process of preparing this explanation. Therefore, the presentation below is not a translation of the original scripture, but an AI explanation based purely on the supplied descriptive information: tradition, collection name, sequence number, Vietnamese title, English title, and equivalent Pāli category. Readers should consult the original Vinaya text for accurate and complete content.

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Background

The Comparative Vinaya — Chinese is a work that gathers and compares disciplinary clauses from various Buddhist sectarian traditions transmitted through Chinese texts. The comparative method makes it possible to identify similarities and differences among Vinaya traditions, thereby clarifying the general form of Buddhist legal studies in the sectarian period.

This clause is numbered Pc 69, showing that it belongs to the Pācittiya group, that is, the category of rules requiring confession in the system of bhikkhu discipline. The Pācittiya group includes acts not as serious as defeat (Pārājika) or Saṅghādisesa, but still requiring acknowledgment and confession before the Sangha or before another bhikkhu. The sign Mi Bi in the notation suggests that this rule applies to bhikkhus, distinguishing it from the section of discipline specifically for bhikkhunīs.

The equivalent Pāli term recorded is Pariṇāmana, literally translated as “turning,” “dedication,” or “transference.” In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this term has the specific meaning of diverting gains, that is, redirecting, adjusting, or turning offerings and material benefits given to the Sangha or to an individual bhikkhu toward another purpose or person improperly.

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Content Identifiable From the Descriptive Information

From the title “Diverting Gains” (Pariṇāmana) and its position as Pācittiya 69, it can be generally determined that this training rule concerns improper handling of material gains received by a bhikkhu, such as food, robes, medicine, or other offerings. “Diverting gains” may include situations such as:

• Transferring offerings given to oneself as an individual to another person in a manner not properly prescribed by the discipline.
• Directing offerings made to the Sangha toward a personal purpose.
• Interfering with the distribution of gains in the Sangha in a way not permitted by the Vinaya Piṭaka.

The exact content of the rule, including the origin story, specific clause, exceptions, and method of confession, requires direct reference to the corresponding Chinese Vinaya text. It is not possible to reproduce the details of circumstances, teaching, or specific cases of offense based solely on descriptive information.

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Meaning for Practice

The training rule on Diverting Gains reflects one of the fundamental concerns of Buddhist Vinaya studies: transparency and fairness in receiving, using, and distributing offerings. Gains, or lābha in Pāli, are among the requisites that laypeople offer to support the life of study and practice of the Sangha. When a bhikkhu receives gains, he assumes responsibility to use them for the proper purpose and proper recipient, in accordance with the donor’s intention as well as the regulations of the discipline.

Improperly “diverting” gains may lead to many consequences: harming the faith of donors, creating discontent in the Sangha, and more importantly, nourishing self-interest or partiality in the practitioner’s mind. The disciplinary rule is therefore laid down not only to maintain the social order of the Sangha, but also to serve the aim of inner cultivation: helping the bhikkhu maintain impartiality, non-attachment, and clear conduct before both the Sangha and laypeople.

In the context of sectarian comparison, the appearance of this training rule in the Chinese Vinaya system with the Pāli designation Pariṇāmana shows that this concern is common to many traditions, even though the wording and details of the clause may differ among sectarian schools. This reminds us that the spirit of protecting integrity in the use of offerings is a universal value in Buddhist Vinaya studies.

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Comparative Note

Because the full Chinese source text of the clause Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 69 has not been directly collated, all analysis in this explanation is general and needs to be verified against the original text. Researchers and practitioners who wish to understand the precise content of this training rule should directly consult the relevant Chinese Vinaya texts in the comparative sectarian materials system gathered by the Comparative Vinaya — Chinese, and also compare them with the corresponding Pāli and Sanskrit Vinaya traditions in order to gain the most comprehensive view of the meaning and scope of application of this training rule.