Xct Mu Bu Pm Sk 47Nopari khādanīyabhojanīyasya pātraṁ dhārayiṣyāma

Exposition of the Nopari Khādanīyabhojanīyasya Pātraṁ Dhārayiṣyāma Discourse

Context

This discourse appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, in the section on rules for monks and nuns (Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga). This text is directly related to the discipline and refined conduct of female monastics in the early Buddhist Sangha.

The historical context shows that, in the time of the Buddha Śākyamuni, when female disciples were eventually permitted by him to go forth as bhikkhunīs, the Sangha needed to build a detailed system of rules to protect both the spiritual level and the dignity of the female monastics. The Nopari discourse is one of the specific regulations intended to ensure purity and dignity in the daily conduct of bhikkhunīs.

Main Content

The title of this discourse means “One should not hold a bowl containing edible food and drink.” The original Pāli sentence “Nopari khādanīyabhojanīyasya pātraṁ dhārayiṣyāma” means that bhikkhunīs are not permitted personally to hold bowls used to contain food and drink for others for purposes other than official rites of practice.

This regulation arose from incidents in the monastic community, when some nuns were accused of using such bowls for inappropriate purposes or in ways that violated the spirit of celibacy they had vowed. The rule is intended to prevent actions that may be misunderstood or lead to ethically complex situations.

Specifically, the regulation prescribes that holding bowls for food or drink is work that should be done by other bhikkhunīs or by lay attendants responsible for such tasks. This ensures that female monastics remain focused on spiritual practice and are not distracted by overly involved worldly tasks.

Practical Meaning

The Nopari discourse reflects a comprehensive principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: maintaining clear boundaries between spiritual practice and worldly tasks.