San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Sk 75Na tate na prapāte na prāgbhāre pātraṁ sthāpayiṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na tate na prapāte na prāgbhāre pātraṁ sthāpayiṣyāma
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Interpretation of the Na Tate Na Prapāte Na Prāgbhāre Pātraṁ Sthāpayiṣyāma Discourse
Background
The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of monastic rules and the stories of their origins, first recorded at the Great Council for the compilation of the Dharma after the Buddha entered nirvana. This discourse belongs to the Suttavibhaṅga, or "Detailed Analysis of the Teachings," of the Vinaya Piṭaka, where the monastic rules for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs are described in detail.
The Pāli title of the discourse, Na tate na prapāte na prāgbhāre pātraṁ sthāpayiṣyāma, means "We shall not place the bowl in unsuitable places, not on cracked places, not in dangerous positions." This is a specific instruction on how to handle and preserve the bowl, a sacred requisite in the monastic life of bhikkhus.
Main Content
This discourse teaches an attitude of care toward communal property and personal requisites in the Sangha. The bowl (pātra) is not merely an implement for eating rice, but also a symbol of humility, self-restraint, and monastic discipline. Bhikkhus must learn to treat it carefully and respectfully.
The teaching "not placing it in unsuitable places" (na tate) instructs that the bowl should be put in safe and clean places. The phrase "not on cracked places" (na prapāte) reminds one to examine carefully before use, avoiding positions that could damage the bowl or cause danger. And "not in dangerous positions" (na prāgbhāre) is advice on protecting property from external factors such as weather, insects, or thieves.
Through these rules, the Buddha taught his disciples to understand that carefulness with everyday requisites is a form of practice. It is not greed or rigidity, but mindfulness and responsibility toward what has been entrusted.
Practical Meaning
This discourse carries a deep meaning concerning discipline (Vinaya).
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