Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Np 22An Almsbowl With Fewer Than Five Mends

Ūnapañcabandhana Sutta: An Alms Bowl with Fewer Than Five Mends

Background

The Ūnapañcabandhana Sutta (ऊनपञ्चबन्धन in Sanskrit, ऊनपञ्चबन्धन in Pāli) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha or in rules concerning the alms bowl (patta) of female monastics. The alms bowl is one of the basic requisites of a monk or nun, the means by which one receives food offered by donors.

This sutta is recorded in the context of the Buddha’s establishment of rules concerning the quality and standard of alms bowls, in order to maintain purity, discipline, and the proper measure of the renunciant life. These rules are not unreasonable restrictions, but instructions for monastics to focus on the path and reduce attachment to material possessions.

Main Content

The sutta provides that an alms bowl is considered suitable for monastic standards if it has fewer than five mends (ūnapañcabandhana). This means that an alms bowl with five or more mends is not considered suitable.

A mend here means a damaged place on the alms bowl that has been repaired. If the alms bowl is too damaged and has required repair more than five times, it no longer meets the standard for durability and cleanliness. This reflects the principle of "the proper limit" (pariyanta) in the life of renunciation: one should not use objects that are too old or no longer suitable, for that would show obstinacy or something outside the proper bounds of ascetic practice.

This rule also continues other regulations concerning alms bowls, such as size, material, whether ceramic or metal, and manner of use. The alms bowl is not a symbol of wealth, but a tool serving the reception of food offered by faithful people. Therefore, it must be maintained at a suitable level: not luxurious, yet meeting minimum standards of quality for food hygiene and respect toward the donors.