Bu Np 3030. Diverting an offering intended for the Sangha
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pariṇata
A monk who diverts to himself an offering intended for the Order must relinquish the item and confess the offense.
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Diverting an Offering (Pariṇata) — Exposition
Background
The Pariṇata rule (Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, rule 30) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically in the section concerning the monastic code for nuns. This rule was established by the Buddha in order to protect the purity and faith of the lay Buddhist community and to ensure the integrity of the Sangha.
In the historical context of Buddhism, offerings and the four requisites (food, robes, lodging, and medicine) intended for the Sangha are understood as acts undertaken on the path to Buddhahood, with the purpose of accumulating merit for the community. When an individual nun sets aside offerings intended for the Sangha in order to appropriate them for her own use, this violates the principle of communal sharing, the collective purity of the community, and the standard of honesty required within the monastic community.
Rules concerning offerings (pariṇata) have long been regarded as a foundation of Buddhist ethics, expressing respect for the Buddha's teachings on not privately appropriating what has been dedicated to the community.
Main Content
The Pariṇata rule stipulates that: any nun who diverts offerings, food, or any requisite originally intended for the Sangha to her own personal use commits a pārājika offence or an offence of expulsion (depending on the school) — a grave transgression within the monastic community.
In order to address this offence, the nun must carry out two essential steps. First, she must formally declare the relinquishment of, or return, all diverted articles. Second, she must publicly confess the offence (āpatti-desanā) before the Sangha, sincerely acknowledging her wrongdoing and expressing genuine repentance.
This rule is not aimed merely at punishment, but also at maintaining the trust of the lay community. When donors know that their offerings are respected and used for their intended purpose, they will continue to support the Sangha with wholesome intention and deep reverence.
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