Bi Pc 163163. Making an inappropriate bed or bench
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mañcapīṭha
A nun who makes a bed with long legs must shorten them and confess the offense.
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Discourse on Beds and Benches Not Conforming to the Standard (Mañcapīṭha)
Background
This rule appears in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, an important part of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The regulations concerning beds and benches (mañcapīṭha) are not trivial matters; rather, they reflect the spirit of practice that the Buddha established for the community of bhikkhunīs.
According to Theravāda Buddhist history, these regulations were developed gradually, based on specific situations that arose within the monastic community. When certain bhikkhunīs made use of beds and benches that were excessively high or overly luxurious, this not only ran contrary to the principle of using only what is minimally necessary, but also created distinctions within the community. The Buddha therefore set limits on the height of beds and benches in order to maintain equality and humility within the Saṅgha.
Main Content
This rule states clearly: if a bhikkhunī makes a bed or bench with legs that are too long, not in accordance with the prescribed standard, she must proactively shorten those legs. After having made the correction to bring it into conformity with the standard, she must then confess this offense before the community of bhikkhunīs, whether publicly or privately, depending on the nature of the offense.
The standard height for beds and benches prescribed by the Buddha has a clear purpose. An excessively high bed may lead to injury, but the primary reason is one of ethics: indulgence in overly comfortable furnishings can cloud the mind and divert one from the path of austere practice. A true bhikkhunī must always remain mindful of what is necessary and what is mere attachment.
The act of confessing an offense (āpatti) is not a punishment in the ordinary sense, but rather a process of spiritual purification. It helps the practitioner recognize her mistake and provides the occasion for the arising of a mind of remorse and the resolve to correct oneself.
Practical Significance
In the context of contemporary Buddhism, this rule teaches us about the importance of self-awareness and personal discipline.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.