Lzh Mu Bu Vb Sk 74Notthitāḥ pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Notthitāḥ pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma
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Explanation of the Sutta on the Outer Bowl (Notthitāḥ Pātraṁ Nirmādayiṣyāma)
Background
This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, which specifically regulates the training life of monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is divided into three main parts: the Sutta Vibhaṅga, the detailed explanation of the minor rules; the Khandhaka, groups of general rules; and the Parivāra, a manual for studying the discipline. This sutta belongs to the category of rules concerning the pātra, the bhikkhu’s bowl, an essential implement of practice in the Theravāda tradition.
In the context of Early Buddhist Dharma, the Buddha established instructions on how to manage, care for, and use the bowl in order to educate his disciples in the way of the mind, wakefulness, and non-waste. The bowl is not merely an implement for receiving rice and water; it also symbolizes humility, self-control, and diligence in the practitioner.
The title “Notthitāḥ Pātraṁ Nirmādayiṣyāma” may be translated as “The bowl should not be used unmindfully” or “The bowl should not be treated lightly.” This is a warning about how to treat one’s belongings, reflecting the spirit of responsible stewardship.
Main Content
According to the spirit of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this sutta deals with situations related to a bhikkhu abandoning his bowl or not actively protecting it. If a bhikkhu does not keep his bowl well, for example, allowing it to be damaged by water, destroyed by animals, or lost, that is a lack of care and not in keeping with the spirit of practice.
The Vinaya Piṭaka states that bhikkhus must not “nirmādayiṣyāma,” must not treat lightly, destroy, or allow to be destroyed the objects distributed for the purpose of practice. The bowl is one of the basic paccaya, conditions or requisites, issued by the Buddha; therefore, the way we treat the bowl reflects the degree of respect we have for these conditions.
This sutta teaches that if a bowl is lost or damaged through one’s own negligence, the practitioner may have to confess and undergo corrective measures according to the regulations of the Sangha.
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