Mpt Sk 74Notthitāḥ pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Notthitāḥ pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma
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Commentary on Mpt Sk 74: On Not Respecting the Bowl
Background
The Vinaya Piṭaka is the legal corpus of the Buddhist community of monks and nuns, recording rules on ethical action, discipline, and the practical life of the community. This sutta belongs to the supplementary Vinaya section (Skandhaka), where each division and the rules governing the Sangha are clearly set forth.
The title “Notthitāḥ pātraṁ nirmādayiṣyāma” carries a meaning concerning disrespect for or misuse of the bowl (pātra), the sacred instrument of Buddhist renunciants. The alms bowl is not only a material object, but also a symbol of humility, discipline, and the aspiration for liberation in Buddhist practice.
The sutta was taught to remind monks and nuns of their responsibility to care for the bowl, and also to educate disciples to understand deeply the meaning of the implements of practice.
Main Content
The sutta states the principle that monks and nuns must respect their bowls. In the Vinaya Piṭaka, the bowl is not private property but a possession of the Sangha, supported by lay Buddhists. Respecting the bowl is an act of respecting the compassion and spiritual support of the Buddhist community.
This rule arises from the principle of the four sacred requisites: robes, food, lodging, and medicine. The alms bowl falls within the sphere of food and expresses the humility of monks and nuns — not seeking luxury, but accepting only what is provided through the kindness of others.
This sutta also implies wrongful behaviors: despising the bowl, using it carelessly, or letting it fall and break. Such actions do not merely violate a rule; they also reflect a state of lacking vigilance (appamāda) and lacking concentration on the action being performed.
Practical Meaning
For those who practice Buddhism, especially monks and nuns, this sutta teaches the sacredness of every detail in daily life.
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