Xct Mu Bu Vb Sk 42Receiving in Proportion
Pāli / Sanskrit:Samasūpakapaṭiggahaṇa
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The Discourse on Receiving Gifts in Equal Portions
Samasūpakapaṭiggahaṇa (Xct Mu Bu Vb Sk 42)
Context
This rule appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Suttavibhaṅga of the Bhikkhuṇī Vibhaṅga, the detailed regulations for the lives of bhikkhuṇīs. The text is not a teaching on Dharma as doctrine, but a rule for governing the community of practice, established by the Buddha and his disciples to maintain harmony and fairness within the Sangha.
The context of Samasūpakapaṭiggahaṇa concerns the receiving of gifts, an important part of the life of nuns. When women devotees wish to offer gifts, such as robes, food, money, or practice requisites, the Buddha-Dharma sets forth rules to ensure fairness and avoid injustice or jealousy in the monastic community.
Main Content
According to the Theravāda tradition, “receiving gifts in equal portions” (Samasūpakapaṭiggahaṇa) states that when offerings are given, they must be distributed fairly among the members of the community. This principle arises from the foundation of the Buddha-Dharma: the removal of discrimination, greed, and unwholesome pleasures in the mind.
If gifts are given privately to certain individuals without a proper reason, such as special service or illness requiring care, this may give rise to jealousy (issā), greed (lobha), and hatred (dosa) among those who do not receive them. These negative mental states become obstacles to progress in practice and destroy the harmony of the Sangha.
This rule applies especially to daily requisites, robes, food, and necessities. Exceptions are allowed when there is a specific reason: a sick bhikkhunī may receive additional medicine or nourishing food; an elderly or frail person may be given additional support to maintain health. However, such exceptions must be acknowledged by the community and must not become a private rule.
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