Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 20Applying Materials to a Large Dwelling
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mahallakavihāra
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The Discourse on Using Building Materials for a Large Monastery
Background
This text appears in the Vinaya Pitaka, especially the Pātimokkha section of the Theravada tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection that regulates the rules of practice and the management of the community of monks and nuns in the Buddhist order. Unlike teachings that focus on meditation or the bodhisattva path, the Vinaya Piṭaka is directed toward maintaining collective discipline, protecting the Sangha, and creating wholesome conditions for practice.
Mahallakavihāra (Pāli: mahallaka = large, vihāra = monastery) is a regulation concerning the use of building materials for monasteries of large scale. The historical context shows that, while the Buddha was still alive, monks and nuns needed suitable dwellings in which to practice concentration and wisdom. However, the construction and furnishing of these buildings required clear principles in order to avoid the misuse of communal property or the creation of division in the Sangha.
Main Content
This text concerns detailed regulations about how to use building materials, wood, earth, brick, stone, or other raw materials, for large monasteries. Specifically, it states principles concerning the distribution, management, and approval of the Sangha before common materials are used.
The core principle is this: no individual monk or group of monks may arbitrarily appropriate public materials of the monastery without the consent of the whole Sangha or of authorized members. This reflects the democratic principle in the management of common property in Buddhist monastic communities.
In addition, the text also mentions specific cases: when materials may be used without approval from the whole Sangha, such as in emergencies, and when the formal procedure must be followed. This ensures that construction projects serve the common good rather than satisfying personal needs or tendencies toward unrestrained accumulation.
Practical Meaning
The Mahallakavihāra Sutta is not merely a set of dry administrative regulations.
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