Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Pd 5Asking for Oil

Sutra on Asking for Oil (Telaviññāpana)

Background

The Sutra on Asking for Oil is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pārājika section, the gravest offenses in the monastic discipline. This is a legal summary concerning regulations on how to request and use essential materials in the pure dwelling life of monks.

The historical background of this text arises from concrete situations in the earliest monastic community after the Buddha’s teaching had been established. When monks lived in villages, they needed ordinary requisites such as oil for lighting, treating illness, or hygiene. Yet the way of requesting and using such items had to be regulated so that it conformed to the discipline, avoiding pursuit of gain or violation of the spirit of practice.

This text was therefore compiled to clarify prohibitions and proper methods in requesting and receiving oil, an important material in daily life.

Main Content

The Sutra on Asking for Oil deals with regulations stating that a monk should not personally ask householders or others for oil, nor should he appoint or instruct others to ask for oil on his behalf. Such actions are considered unsuitable for one gone forth, because they express greed or a failure to actively observe the rule of self-restraint.

According to the specific regulation, if a monk needs oil, he should inform the steward of the Sangha’s property, called the “bhikshu-karma,” or those responsible for distributing necessary requisites. These people decide whether oil is necessary, and if so, they request it properly from fair-minded householders.

The text also mentions cases in which asking for oil is legitimately permitted. For example, if a monk is ill and oil is necessary medicine for recovery, or when oil is used for legitimate Sangha purposes, such as lighting during puja ceremonies, then requesting oil through proper channels is permitted.