Lzh Mu Bu Pm Sk 64Receiving Even Level
Pāli / Sanskrit:Samatittika
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
SAMATITTIKA SUTTA (RECEIVING AN EQUAL PORTION)
Background
The Samatittika Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the body of discipline guiding the life of the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is divided into three collections: Suttavibhaṅga (detailed rules), Khandhaka (collected rules), and Parivāra (appendix to the rules). The Samatittika Sutta is found in the Khandhaka section, specifically the Mahāvagga, and concerns rules related to receiving, using, and distributing requisites such as robes for bhikkhus.
The historical background of the discourse is connected with the ascetic life of the Sangha during the time of Buddha Śākyamuni. Because they did not own personal property, bhikkhus could possess only the most essential requisites, called the "four requisites": robes, alms food, lodging, and medicine. The Samatittika Sutta prescribes principles of fairness and equality in the way these requisites are received and distributed, reflecting the spirit of equality in the meditative Sangha.
Main Content
The Samatittika Sutta focuses on the principle of "equality" (samatā) in receiving and managing requisites. Specifically, the discourse prescribes that when requisites, such as robes or necessary garments for bhikkhus, are to be distributed to those who have gone forth, the distribution must be carried out fairly, without bias, and without discrimination based on age, virtue, or the personal affection of the distributor.
This principle is called "receiving an equal portion" because it affirms that all bhikkhus, whether senior or young, advanced or newly ordained, have the right to receive necessary requisites on an equal basis. This reflects the fundamental teaching of equality in Theravāda Buddhism: there is no rigid hierarchical mechanism in the meditative Sangha, but only distinctions based on the time since ordination.
The discourse also identifies specific situations in which requisites are received, and the manner of checking their quality and suitability before distribution.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.