Bi Np 77. Exchanging designated Sangha property that was asked for
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyasaṁghikacetāpana
A nun who asks for a requisite belonging to the Order that is designated for a specific purpose and then exchanges it for something else must relinquish the item and confess the offense.
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The Commentary on Dutiyasaṁghikacetāpana
Exchanging Designated Collective Property
Background
Early Buddhism, through the Vinaya Piṭaka—particularly the Pātimokkha (the fundamental rules of discipline)—established a system for managing property belonging to the monastic community (Saṁgha) so as to protect its purity and fairness. The Dutiyasaṁghikacetāpana falls within the section on Nissaggiya Pācittiya (offenses requiring forfeiture and confession), governing conduct related to collective (Saṁgha) property.
In the practice tradition of early Buddhism, the Saṁgha administered property offered by laypeople or other practitioners in order to support the basic needs of the bhikkhunīs. Such requisites were divided into two categories: general-use items (which could be used freely) and items designated for a specific purpose (set apart for practice, accommodation, or a particular function). This rule addresses the situation in which a bhikkhunī requests a designated Saṁgha item and subsequently exchanges it for something else, thereby violating the integrity of communal property management.
Main Content
This rule deals with a specific case in the Vinaya Piṭaka: when a bhikkhunī asks the Saṁgha for an item that has been designated for a particular purpose—such as a robe set aside for a specific monastery or an article serving the Saṁgha's work—and then exchanges it (cetāpana) for something else. Such an act is regarded as disrespectful toward the Saṁgha's determination and as a violation of the original agreement concerning the item's intended use.
The penalty for this offense is Nissaggiya Pācittiya—the bhikkhunī must formally declare the forfeiture of the exchanged item before the Saṁgha or before at least three bhikkhunīs, then confess the offense and perform the act of rehabilitation (pācittiya). The item must be returned or disposed of in accordance with the Saṁgha's decision. The important point is that the confession of fault is not a minor matter; it requires a specific and public act, underscoring the gravity of violating the Saṁgha's trust.
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