Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Sk 63Receiving Even Level

Source Status

This item is an AI interpretation based on the provided descriptive information and a truncated ending of the Vietnamese text, not a translation of the original scripture. In this session, the full text at the source link has not yet been checked, so it is not possible to confirm each sentence, each Chinese technical term, or the full context of the rule. The details below rely only on the Vietnamese title “Tiếp Nhận Ngang Bằng,” the English title “Receiving Even Level,” the Pali term “Samatittika,” the item code “lzh-sarv-bi-pm-dh-sk63,” the tradition “Sectarian Buddhist Texts · Comparative,” the collection “Comparative Vinaya — Chinese,” and the remaining stylistic tone in the truncated passage.

Since the full source text is not yet available, this should not be regarded as a basis for scholarly citation or for establishing a standard translation.

Context

The descriptive information shows that this is an item in the Chinese comparative Vinaya group, related to the sectarian tradition and bearing the code “sk63.” This designation suggests that the content belongs to a group of training rules concerning decorum, but within the scope of the currently available data, one can only say cautiously that this item concerns a way of receiving according to an even or level measure. Both the Vietnamese and English titles point toward the idea of “evenness”: not too full, not exceeding the measure, not creating imbalance in the act of receiving. The Pali term “Samatittika” also suggests that the focus may lie in moderation, levelness, and not allowing the receiving of food or an offered portion to become an expression of craving.

In monastic life, very small details concerning receiving, eating, using things, walking, standing, and speaking all have significance for practice. An outward act that seems merely ritual can reflect the state of the inner mind: whether one knows contentment, whether one maintains dignity, whether one respects the community and the donors. Therefore, this item should be read in the spirit of training in the precepts: not to judge outward form, but to see how the Dharma is practiced in everyday life.

Content That Can Be Determined from the Descriptive Information

From the title “Receiving Even Level,” the main theme can be identified as the attitude and manner of receiving so that one does not exceed the proper measure. If related to the truncated ending, the preceding style emphasized fairness, not taking a greater share, and not allowing personal influence or status within the Sangha to distort the act of receiving. However, because the ending may contain expanded interpretation, it cannot be asserted that all those details are the verbatim content of the rule.

What can safely be retained is the spirit of “equal measure”: when receiving something offered, a practitioner should not let desire lead them to receive too fully, too much, or with an attitude of possession. Evenness here is not only a matter of material quantity, but also the balance of the mind. The receiver does not place oneself at the center, does not turn an offering into an opportunity to nourish the ego, and does not cause others to perceive the act of receiving as lacking grace.

In the Vinaya context, such a rule helps preserve communal harmony. When receiving is placed within proper bounds, subtle comparisons diminish: who received more, who received less, who was favored, who was forgotten. Although the descriptive information does not allow the ritual details to be determined, it is enough to show that this is a lesson in measure, equality, and self-restraint when coming into contact with requisites or food.

Meaning for Practice

The practical meaning of “Samatittika” lies in the practitioner learning to receive without grasping. Receiving is a necessary act in a life dependent on the faithful offerings of donors, but if mindfulness is lacking, it can easily become a place where craving manifests very discreetly. A monastic may not speak words of demand, yet gestures, glances, the way the bowl is extended, the way one waits for a portion, or dissatisfaction with the portion received can all show that the inner mind has not yet been tamed.

This lesson also has value for laypeople. In family life, organizations, Dharma centers, or society, “evenness” is not merely a mechanical equal division, but an attitude of not abusing closeness, age, role, or merit in order to receive a greater share. Students of the Buddha are invited to look again at very small regions of the mind: do we become upset when not given priority, do we secretly hope for a better portion, do we use our contribution as a reason to demand more?

When one knows how to receive just enough, one is less bound by the notion of “mine.” Simplicity in receiving nourishes moral shame and moral dread: knowing shame toward unwholesome desire and respecting the purity of communal life. This is a very practical training of the mind: one does not wait until entering the meditation hall to practice, but practices immediately when extending the hand to receive a portion of food, an object, a word of praise, or an opportunity.

Comparative Note

The full Chinese source text and corresponding versions need to be compared before this item is used for scholarly research. In particular, details about the speaker, the circumstances in which the rule was established, chapter divisions, or specific objects should not be added if the descriptive information does not state them. The present interpretation establishes only the general theme: receiving at an even level, not taking beyond one’s share, not manifesting craving, and preserving harmony within the community of practice. When the full source becomes available, the term “Samatittika,” the scope of application of the training rule, and the precise meaning of “even level” in the Vinaya context should be checked again.