Lzh Mu Bi Pm Np 14An Almsbowl With Fewer Than Five Mends
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnapañcabandhana
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Sutra on an Alms Bowl with Fewer Than Five Mends
Context
This sutra is drawn from the Vinaya Piṭaka, the most foundational division of the Pāli Canon, which records the disciplinary rules established by the Buddha Gotama for the community of monks and nuns (Sangha). The Vinaya is not merely a set of dry prohibitions, but profound guidance helping monastics cultivate the mind and protect the purity of the Sangha.
The rule concerning the alms bowl (patta) of monks and nuns expresses the Buddha’s comprehensive vision. The bowl is not only an implement of daily life, but also a symbol of simplicity, non-greed, and adaptation to the community. This sutra refers to a specific case: a bowl with fewer than five mends (ūnapañca bandhana), that is, a bowl that has been repaired but has not yet reached the point at which it must be replaced.
Main Content
According to the Theravāda Vinaya tradition, the bowl of monks and nuns must be maintained in a clean and suitable condition. When a bowl is damaged, it may be mended, but the number of mends has a limit. If a bowl has fewer than five mends, it is still considered a lawful bowl and may continue to be used. This reflects a practical principle: do not waste, do not discard what can still be used, but also do not allow an implement to become too loose or unhygienic.
This rule arose from specific situations that occurred within the Sangha. The Buddha observed that, without clear guidance, some monks or nuns might abuse the matter, mending bowls carelessly so that they dropped food, or conversely discarding them too readily out of laziness in making repairs. A bowl with fewer than five mends is still permitted to be kept, because it can still be used and does not violate the principle of simplicity, namely that a monastic should have only one bowl.
Practical Meaning
This sutra teaches us the importance of balance (majjhattā). Theravāda Buddhism advocates neither excessive austerity nor excessive indulgence.
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