Xct Mu Bu Pm Pc 68Transferring to Another
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vikappana
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Vikappana Sutta — Transferring (Vinaya Piṭaka)
Background
Vikappana (transferring) is an important legal procedure in the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, belonging to the Pātimokkha, the basic code for bhikkhus. This sutta appears in the Samantapāsādikā, the section explaining in detail the rules of practice for the Sangha.
The formation of Vikappana is connected with the Blessed Buddha’s establishment of an organized practicing community with firm discipline. When bhikkhus violate a legal rule, there must be a mechanism for them to acknowledge the fault and transfer it, that is, to shift the violation from one case to another, or from one kind of adjudication to another.
This regulation is especially important because it protects the integrity of the harmonious Sangha and allows bhikkhus an opportunity to correct themselves, maintaining the purity of the discipline (sīla).
Main Content
Vikappana, in its Pāli dictionary meaning, carries the sense of “change, movement, choosing otherwise.” In the context of Vinaya studies, it is a legal procedure by which a bhikkhu may ask the Sangha for permission to transfer a violation from one category to another, or from one degree of penalty to another.
The mechanism of Vikappana is often applied in cases: (1) when a bhikkhu acknowledges a fault but there are mitigating circumstances, such as lack of intention or being deceived; (2) when the initial judgment may not have been applied appropriately; (3) when adjustment of the penalty is needed so that it accords more closely with the actual offense.
This procedure is not an escape or a way to overlook a violation, but a means for the Sangha to be fair and wise in handling discipline. It reflects the basic principles of the Buddha-Dharma: compassion, cause and effect, and the path of practice as something that can be corrected.
The regulations on Vikappana are recorded in detail to avoid unjust decisions or decisions arising from anger. Everything must be done transparently, in the presence of the Sangha, and must follow the prescribed procedures.
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