Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Np 26Exchanging Personal Property
Pāli / Sanskrit:Puggalikacetāpana
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Exposition of the Puggalikacetāpana Discourse (Exchanging Personal Property)
Background
The Puggalikacetāpana Discourse belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Pali Canon and lies within the Bhikkhu Patimokkha, specifically in the Nissaggiya Pacittiya section, offenses requiring relinquishment of an item and confession. This discourse was recorded from the time of the Buddha Gotama and his disciples, when the Sangha needed to establish rules for managing personal property within the community of those gone forth.
The background from which this discourse arose was that early bhikkhus showed a tendency to exchange and bargain over personal requisites, such as robes, water vessels, or tools of practice, without following the principle of humility and non-greed. The Buddha saw that this action violated the spirit of renunciation, and therefore issued a rule to protect the purity of the bhikkhus’ minds.
Main Content
The Puggalikacetāpana Discourse states that bhikkhus are not permitted to exchange or bargain over personal requisites (puggalikacetā) with the intention or motive of gaining profit or personal benefit. The core point of this rule is that the use of property must always be directed toward the purpose of practice and simple living, not accumulation or trade.
Specifically, if a bhikkhu exchanges personal requisites with a mind seeking gain or out of greed, this act is considered a violation of Nissaggiya Pacittiya, meaning that the item must be relinquished (niyyadana) and the fault confessed before the Sangha. This is not permitted even when the transaction is with other bhikkhus or with lay people.
The rule emphasizes that the requisites a bhikkhu possesses, such as the three robes (civara), water vessel, and other monastic requisites (bhikkhu-parikkhara), should be used according to their original purpose, which is to support the life of practice and cultivation. Exchanging them in a commercial manner or for the purpose of personal gain is an act harmful to the conduct of the Sangha.
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