Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 44Precious Things
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ratana
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THE RATANA RULE (PRECIOUS THINGS) - EXPOSITION
Background
The Ratana rule, provisionally translated as “Precious Things” or “Treasures,” appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic code governing the monastic life of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. This is not a discourse in the style of an exposition of profound doctrines, but a legal or ethical instruction (sīla) connected with objects or property within the Buddhist community.
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, “Ratana” (precious thing) refers to things of high value, not only material things but also the ethical and spiritual values that Buddhism holds dear. The appearance of this rule reflects the concern of the Buddha and the Sangha for protecting, respecting, and managing material things in a manner appropriate to the ethics of practice.
Main Content
Although the detailed content of this rule has not been fully translated in the descriptive information, based on its position in the Vinaya Piṭaka, Ratana concerns regulations on how precious things in the monastery are to be handled. In the Theravāda tradition, “precious things” are usually understood in two aspects:
First, material treasures, such as objects, scriptures, Buddha images, or monastic buildings, are common property of the monastic community. The law regulates how Sangha members should respect, protect, and use these things responsibly, without appropriating or misusing them.
Second, spiritual treasures, the precious teachings, practice, and wholesome attainments that monastics should preserve. This rule emphasizes that these possessions are not for private ownership or possessiveness, but are to be shared with the community, serving the common purpose of practice.
The regulations in this rule were established to prevent greed, jealousy, and bad actions connected with material goods, qualities that obstruct spiritual progress.
Practical Meaning
The Ratana rule carries profound meaning for practice according to the Theravāda tradition.
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