Lzh Mu Bu Pm Ss 7Building a Dwelling
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vihārakāra
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An Explanation of the Vihārakāra Sutta (Building a Monastery)
Background
The Vihārakāra Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pali Canon, the legal regulations organizing the communal life of the Sangha. In the early period of Buddhism, bhikkhus and bhikkhunis lived in the wilderness, concentrating on practice. Yet as the Dharma developed, temporary shelters gradually became monasteries (vihāra), collective places for practice and learning.
This sutta deals with practical issues: how to build a monastery in accordance with the spirit of the Buddha-Dharma, balancing practical needs with the principle of spiritual purity. This context reflects the continuity of Buddhism from the time when the Buddha was alive into later periods, when the Sangha needed stable material facilities.
Main Content
The Vihārakāra Sutta sets forth basic principles in the construction and maintenance of monasteries, dwellings for those engaged in Dharma propagation. Accordingly, construction must follow the principle of sīla and must not be luxurious or excessively wasteful. A monastery must be sufficient to shelter and protect bhikkhus from wind, rain, sun, and the effects of nature, but must not become a symbol of wealth or self-display.
The sutta also designates those responsible in this process: bhikkhus appointed as “vihārakāra” (builders of the monastery) must act with compassion, wisdom, and strict observance of the form taught by the Buddha. They need to consider carefully the true purpose of a monastery: a temporary dwelling for those who have gone forth in search of liberation, not a place for accumulating property.
In addition, the sutta mentions regulations on how to use the monastery after it is completed: it must not be used for profit-making purposes; it must be maintained in cleanliness and dignity; and it must serve the common purpose of the Sangha and support the practice of individuals.
Practical Meaning
The Vihārakāra Sutta is not only a set of architectural rules or property-management regulations, but also a lesson on the mind of practice.
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