Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 68Transferring to Another
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vikappana
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Explanation of the Vikappana Sutta (Transferring Authority)
Background
The Vikappana Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, rules of practice whose violation leads to a fault requiring confession. The background for the arising of this discourse comes from specific events in the community of monks and nuns during the time of Buddha Gotama.
According to the Theravāda tradition, this discourse was recorded to guide bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus regarding the principle of transferring authority for actions or use, especially in matters relating to property, artisans’ work, or activities requiring permission from the Sangha community.
The Vinaya Piṭaka was built upon the spirit of protecting the purity of the community of monks and nuns and creating harmony in collective practice. Each rule is not a restriction by nature, but a boundary that builds trust, discipline, and collectedness so that wisdom may arise.
Main Content
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, “Vikappana” (transferring authority or transferring ownership) refers to the fact that a monastic is not permitted to arbitrarily transfer responsibility, ownership, or entrusted work without the approval of the community or of designated elders.
More specifically, this rule cautions against situations such as the following: if a monastic is entrusted with managing the shared property of a monastery, such as a granary, charitable funds, or construction work, that person may not arbitrarily “transfer authority” to another without reporting it or asking permission. Such an act would be regarded as irresponsible and a betrayal of the community’s trust.
This principle also applies to assigned duties: if a monastic has been appointed to a specific task, such as managing dwelling rooms, caring for the sick, or teaching novices, that monastic must fulfill the responsibility or seek permission from the elders before transferring it to another. An unauthorized transfer of authority leads to a Pācittiya offense, requiring confession before other monastics.
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