Vinaya Texts, Part III · 101 of 121

Kullavagga, Tenth Khandhaka, Chapter 11

11.

1.Now at that time a certain Bhikkhunî, when on her death-bed, said: ‘After I am gone, let my set of necessaries belong to the Samgha.’ Then the

Bhikkhus and the Bhikkhunîs disputed as to it,’ saying: ‘It belongs to us; it belongs to us.’

They told this matter to the Blessed One.

‘If, O Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhunî, or a novice under training to become one (a Sikkhamânâ), when on her death-bed, should say: “After I am gone, let my set of necessaries belong to the Samgha,” then it is the Bhikkhunî-samgha it belongs to; the Bhikkhu-samgha is not the owner thereof. If a Bhikkhu, O Bhikkhus, or a novice under training to become one (a Sâmanera), when on his death-bed, should say: “After I am gone, let my set of necessaries become the property of the Samgha,” then it is the Bhikkhu-samgha it belongs to; the Bhikkhunî-samgha is not the owner thereof ‘

Footnotes

343:5 Parikkhâro; that is, the eight things over which a member of the Buddhist Order was allowed proprietary rights—the three robes, the alms-bowl, razor, needle, girdle, and water-strainer.

344:1 By the rule laid down in the Mahâvagga VIII, 27, the set of robes and the bowl are to be assigned by the Samgha to those that waited on the sick—at least in the case of Bhikkhus,—and the analogy would doubtless hold good of the Bhikkhunîs also.