Bi Pd 11. The training rule on asking for ghee

Commentary on Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 1: The Training Rule on Asking for Ghee

Background

This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka within the Pāli Canon—the oldest collection of scriptures in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. Specifically, it is found in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the code of rules for bhikkhunīs), under the Pācittiya section (rules requiring confession and expiation), as the first rule concerning the asking for ghee (sappiviññāpana).

The origin of this rule arose from an incident within the monastic community. The Buddha observed that bhikkhunīs had a tendency to press and persistently demand that lay supporters offer them various requisites beyond their actual needs, in particular ghee (sappi)—a nourishing substance considered valuable but not among the minimal necessities. Such conduct violated the spirit of humility, non-greed, and respect toward donors that the Buddha had always taught. Accordingly, he promulgated this rule in order to correct the behavior of the monastic community.

Main Content

The training rule stipulates that: if a bhikkhunī presses, requests, or persistently asks for ghee from a donor or from the donor's disciples—when that donor is not under the control of ruffians (subordinates) or of the household community—except in times of acute illness or in specially permitted circumstances, then such conduct constitutes a Pācittiya, that is, an offense requiring confession before the witness of the Sangha assembly.

"Asking" (viññāpana) here does not refer to a polite inquiry, but rather to pressing and persistently demanding in an unsuitable manner. Ghee is chosen as the example because in the context of ancient India it was a precious nutritive substance, yet was not among the minimal requisites (paccaya) in the spirit of Buddhist practice. The spirit of the rule extends to other edible items of a similar nature—those that go beyond primary needs.