Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Np 13Asking for Thread
Pāli / Sanskrit:Suttaviññatti
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Discourse on Asking for Thread — Suttavinnatti
Background
The Discourse on Asking for Thread (Suttavinnatti) belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically the Pacittiya section, offenses that can be corrected, within the monastic legal system of Early Buddhism. This is a legal discourse concerning regulations on how to request permission to use requisites of practice, especially thread or fibrous materials for sewing robes, such as the sanghati and uttarasanga.
During the Buddha’s lifetime, as the community of bhikkhus developed, small disputes arose regarding the use of common property and the manner of asking permission. To maintain discipline and the harmony of the community (samgha), the Buddha established clear principles. This discourse records a specific case from which a regulation was formed concerning asking for thread or sewing materials from the common fund of the Sangha.
Main Content
This discourse states that when a bhikkhu needs thread or fibrous materials to mend or make robes, he must ask permission in the proper manner (suttavinnatti) instead of taking them on his own authority. This request is not merely a formal courtesy, but an expression of respect for communal property and the spirit of responsible stewardship.
The main content of the rule emphasizes:
First, a bhikkhu must not use or appropriate thread from the common fund on his own authority. This relates to the rule against taking what has not been given (adinnadana).
Second, the request must be clear and public, before other monastics or before the steward of Sangha property. This is the principle of transparency and responsibility.
Third, this reflects a broader principle: in the Sangha, there is no absolute personal ownership. All requisites belong to the community and are used for the shared purpose of practice.
Practical Meaning
The Discourse on Asking for Thread teaches us that respect for common property is the foundation of discipline and harmony.
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