Bi Np 1010. Exchanging designated personal property that was asked for
Pāli / Sanskrit:Puggalikacetāpana
A nun who asks for a personal requisite for a specific purpose and then exchanges it for something else must relinquish the item and confess the offense.
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Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Nuns’ Analysis
The chapter on relinquishment The subchapter on almsbowls 10. Exchanging designated personal property that was asked for
Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nun Thullanandā was a learned reciter, and she was confident and skilled at giving teachings. Many people visited her. Just then the yard of Thullanandā’s dwelling was deteriorating. People asked her why, and she replied, “I have neither donor nor worker.” Then, after collecting voluntary contributions for the yard of Thullanandā’s dwelling, the people gave the collected requisites to Thullanandā. But even though she had asked for them, Thullanandā exchanged those requisites for tonics, which she then used.
When the people found out about this, they complained and criticized her, “When personal requisites are designated for a specific purpose and were asked for, how could the nun Thullanandā exchange them for something else?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”
“It’s true, sir.”
The Buddha rebuked her … “When personal requisites are designated for a specific purpose and were asked for, how could the nun Thullanandā exchange them for something else? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
Final ruling
‘When a personal requisite is designated for a specific purpose and was asked for, if a nun exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”
Definitions
A: whoever … Nun: … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. A requisite is designated for a specific purpose: it was given for a specific purpose. Personal: belonging to an individual nun, not to the Sangha, not to a group. Was asked for: that she herself had asked for. Exchanges it for something else: if, apart from the purpose for which it was given, she exchanges it for something else, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. When she gets it, it becomes subject to relinquishment.
It should be relinquished to a sangha, a group, or an individual nun. “And, monks, it should be relinquished like this. …” (To be expanded as in Bi NP 1:2.1.21–2.1.43, with appropriate substitutions.)
“Venerables, this thing, which I got in exchange for a personal requisite that was designated for a specific purpose and had been asked for, is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Sangha.” … “the Sangha should give …” “you should give …” “I give this back to you.”
Permutations
If it is for a specific purpose and she perceives that it is, and she exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is for a specific purpose, but she is unsure of it, and she exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If it is for a specific purpose, but she does not perceive that it is, and she exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession. When she receives in return what had been relinquished, it is to be used in accordance with the intention of the donors.
If it is not for a specific purpose, but she perceives that it is, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not for a specific purpose, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not for a specific purpose, and she does not perceive that it is, there is no offense.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: if she uses the remainder; if she uses it after getting permission from the owners; if there is an emergency; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.
The tenth training rule is finished.
The “…” is an abbreviation carried over from the Pāli original itself, called peyyāla. The early canon was memorized and recited, so passages repeated verbatim from a preceding discourse were commonly contracted to an elision mark rather than written out in full. Venerable Thích Minh Châu's translation preserves this convention. Some texts therefore look short — but that is the canonical form, not missing content or a truncated translation. The elided passages can be read in full in the preceding discourses of the same chapter.
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