San Mu Bu Pm GBM 2 Ss 7Building a Dwelling
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vihārakāra
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Explanation of the Vihārakāra Sutta (Building a Monastic Dwelling)
Background
The Vihārakāra Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the section of discipline related to regulations on building, repairing, and maintaining monasteries and monastic dwellings within the monastic order. In the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a rigid code of law but also a path of education in the mind and in harmonious mutual support within the monastic community.
According to the records, the Buddha and the first disciples lived in various ways: in forests, caves, and at the roots of trees. But as the order developed, the need for places of common residence became urgent. Therefore, regulations on the building of vihāras, monastic dwellings, were formed in order to ensure legality, fairness, and the spirit of samantapasādika, voluntary action without coercion.
Main Content
The Vihārakāra Sutta chiefly lays down principles for when monks and nuns wish to build a new monastery or monastic dwelling. First, there must be the consent of the local Saṅgha community. No one may arbitrarily build a monastic establishment without common agreement, because a monastic dwelling is communal property, not an individual's possession.
Second, those who solicit resources for construction (yācaka) must have a pure mind, without deception and without exploiting the Three Jewels for personal gain. They must clearly present the purpose of the construction, the expected amount of money, and the way the property will be used. This transparency is an expression of wisdom (paññā) and morality (sīla) in Buddhist financial management.
Third, the process of construction must follow rules concerning safety and avoiding harm to other living beings. The discourse indicates that workers and collaborators must be treated fairly and provided with suitable food and lodging. This reflects the standpoint of the Buddha-Dharma: practice does not mean neglecting social responsibility.
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