Lzh Mi Bu Pm Pc 81Transferring to Another

The Discourse on Transferring (Vikappana Sutta)

Background

The Discourse on Transferring belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Dharma of ethics and discipline governing the Sangha community. In the context of communal practice in early Buddhism, when bhikkhus and bhikkhunis lived together according to unified rules, complex situations arose concerning the assignment and transfer of duties and authority in practice.

The practice of transferring (Vikappana) is a legal mechanism in the Sangha allowing a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni voluntarily to transfer responsibility, property, or authority in practice to another monastic or to the community. This is not an arbitrary action, but must be performed according to strict principles in order to protect personal ethics and the unity of the community.

Main Content

According to the spirit of the Theravāda Vinaya Pitaka, the rule of transferring stipulates that when a bhikkhu wishes to transfer the right of use of property, such as robes, bowls, lodging, or responsibilities in practice, to another person, he must follow specific conditions. First, the recipient must be a diligent monastic, of good conduct, and recognized by the Sangha. Second, the transfer must be carried out publicly or before witnesses, to avoid deception or manipulation.

The important point is that transferring is not always permitted. If a bhikkhu transfers property or authority in order to avoid responsibility, or to conceal a violation of the discipline, then that action becomes an offense. The core principle is sincerity (sacca), self-awareness (sampajañña), and respect for the nature of one’s own practice.

This discourse also relates to regulations stating that a bhikkhu cannot unconditionally relinquish his authority if doing so harms the Sangha or undermines the shared discipline. Transfer must be carried out with the consent of the community or of authorized senior monastics.