Bu Pc 1414. Leaving furniture outside
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mañcasanthārana
A monk who abandons furniture belonging to the Order outdoors must confess the offense.
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Commentary on the Mañcasanthārana Rule (Bu Pc 14)
Background
The Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition was formed on the basis of events within the monastic community during the time of the Buddha. The rule concerning the leaving of Saṅgha property outdoors arose from a specific incident in which certain bhikkhus did not properly care for the property of the Saṅgha, leaving furnishings such as couches (mañca) and seats (āsana) exposed to sun, rain, and wind, resulting in their deterioration. Bu Pc 14 — a Pātimokkha Saṃvara rule — records a Pācittiya offense connected with this action.
In the context of communal practice, property belonging to the Saṅgha (Saṃgha) is distinct from personal possessions (bhoga). Furnishings used for sleeping, sitting, and daily life within the monastery all belong to the Saṅgha. Leaving such items outdoors unattended is not a matter of inadvertence, but of negligence in the stewardship of communal property, reflecting a mind lacking in composure and given to forgetfulness.
Main Content
This rule applies when a bhikkhu leaves Saṅgha sleeping or sitting furnishings (Saṃghika mañca-āsana) outdoors — whether in the monastery courtyard, exposed to rain, or in places without shelter — without a legitimate purpose or without putting them away after use. This action is regarded as a Pācittiya offense, a transgression less severe than a Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, yet still requiring public acknowledgment before the Saṅgha (Pātidesanīya).
The spirit of the rule does not lie in punishment, but in the reminder that every member of the Saṅgha is a steward of communal property. Such care is not motivated by attachment, but by respect for the support offered by the lay Buddhist community. When an item is damaged through being left outdoors, it causes not only material loss but also reflects a lack of mindfulness in both mind and action.
This rule also reflects the principle of Appamāda — non-heedlessness. The Buddha emphasized that "Appamādo amatapadaṃ" — heedfulness is the path to the Deathless.
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