Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 12Evenly All Around
Pāli / Sanskrit:Parimaṇḍala
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Parimaṇḍala Text: Rule on the Distribution of Monastery Property
Background
The Parimaṇḍala text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Vibhaṅga, a detailed treatise on the disciplinary rules for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the legal foundation for communal life in the Sangha, established by the Buddha to protect harmony, discipline, and the spirit of practice.
Parimaṇḍala, “circle, evenly around,” relates directly to the distribution of common property in the monastery community. This context arose in the early Sangha when practical issues concerning common ownership, distribution of food, robes, and requisites needed clear regulation in order to avoid disputes and maintain ethics.
Main Content
The Parimaṇḍala rule revolves around the principle of even distribution (parimaṇḍala) of the common property of the monastery to all members. This is not merely a cold accounting matter, but expresses a deep ethical principle: equality within the community of practice.
According to the spirit of the Vinaya Piṭaka, monastery property, whether food, robes, medicine, or other requisites, does not belong to individuals, but is common property managed for the collective benefit. In distribution, the principle is fairness and consistency: each member receives an equal share, without discrimination based on power, age, or status.
This regulation aims to prevent wrongs such as personal hoarding, unfair preferential treatment, or the creation of jealousy within the community. It is also a warning about the danger of partiality and self-interest, great obstacles on the path of practice.
Practical Meaning
The Parimaṇḍala text is not only an administrative rule, but a profound lesson in equanimous mind (samacittatā).
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