Requisites

Contents

Bindu (Marking)

Before use, a new robe must be marked with three dots, blue, green, black or brown in colour, saying, either out loud or mentally:

‘Imaṁ bindukappaṁ karomi.’ (×3)
‘I make this properly marked.’ Vin.IV.120

Adhiṭṭhāna (Determining)

‘Imaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ adhiṭṭhāmi.’
‘I determine this outer robe.’

For ‘saṅghāṭiṁ’ substitute item as appropriate:

  • uttarā-saṅgaṁ (upper robe)
  • antara-vāsakaṁ (lower robe)
  • pattaṁ (alms bowl)
  • nisīdanaṁ (sitting-cloth)
  • kaṇḍu-paṭicchādiṁ (skin-eruption covering cloth)
  • vassika-sāṭikaṁ (rains cloth)
  • paccattharaṇaṁ (sleeping cloth)
  • mukha-puñchana-colaṁ (handkerchief)
  • parikkhāra-colaṁ (small requisite)

The first three articles must be properly marked before being determined for use. Only one of each of these items may be determined at any one time.

The rains cloth may be used only during the four months of the Rains.

There is no limit to the number of articles which may be determined in each of the last three categories above, e.g.:

‘Imāni paccattharaṇāni adhiṭṭhāmi.’
‘I determine these sleeping cloths.’

Substitute ‘mukhapuñchana-colāni’ (handkerchiefs) or ‘parikkhāra-colāni’ (small requisites) as appropriate.

Articles are determined either by touching the article and mentally reciting the relevant Pali passage, or by uttering the Pali passage without touching the article. In the latter case, if the article is beyond forearm’s length:

‘imaṁ’ (this) → ‘etaṁ’ (that)
‘imāni’ (these) → ‘etāni’ (those)

Sp.III.643-644

Paccuddharaṇa (Relinquishing)

When an outer robe, upper robe, lower robe, alms bowl or sitting-cloth is to be replaced, the article already determined must first be relinquished from use:

‘Imaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paccuddharāmi.’
‘I relinquish this outer robe.’ Sp.III.643

Substitute the appropriate item for ‘saṅghāṭiṁ’.

Apart from relinquishing from use, a determined article ceases to be determined if it is given to another, is stolen, is taken on trust by a friend, or has a large visible hole in it.

Vikappana (Sharing Ownership)

There are varied practices about sharing ownership. Here are the most common ways.

Generally Addressing the Recipient

In the presence of the receiving bhikkhu, and with the article within forearm’s length:

‘Imaṁ cīvaraṁ tuyhaṁ vikappemi.’
‘I share this robe with you.’

‘Imāni cīvarāni tuyhaṁ vikappemi.’
‘… these robes …’

‘Imaṁ pattaṁ tuyhaṁ vikappemi.’
‘… this bowl …’

‘Ime patte tuyhaṁ vikappemi.’
‘… these bowls …’

When the receiving bhikkhu is the senior:
‘tuyhaṁ’ → ‘āyasmato’

When it is shared with more than one bhikkhu:
‘tuyhaṁ’ → ‘tumhākaṁ’

When the article is beyond forearm’s length:

‘imaṁ’ → ‘etaṁ’;
‘imāni’ → ‘etāni’;
‘ime’ → ‘ete’ Vin.IV.122

Addressing the Recipient by Name

In the presence of the receiving bhikkhu (who is named, e.g., ‘Uttaro’), and with the article within forearm’s length, one says to another bhikkhu:

‘Imaṁ cīvaraṁ uttarassa bhikkhuno vikappemi.’
‘I share this robe with Uttaro Bhikkhu.’

When the receiving bhikkhu is the senior:
‘uttarassa bhikkhuno’ → ‘āyasmato uttarassa’

If it is shared with a novice:
‘uttarassa bhikkhuno’ → ‘uttarassa sāmaṇerassa’

To share a bowl: ‘cīvaraṁ’ → ‘pattaṁ’

If more than one article is to be shared substitute the plural form as in Generally Addressing above.

When the item is beyond forearm’s length substitute as in Generally Addressing above.

Vin.IV.122

Receiving Bhikkhu is Absent

In the absence of the receiving bhikkhus, say to a witness:

‘Imaṁ cīvaraṁ vikappanatthāya tuyhaṁ dammi.’
‘I give this robe to you for the purpose of sharing.’

The witness should then ask the original owner the names of two bhikkhus or novices who are his friends or acquaintances:

‘Ko te mitto vā sandiṭṭho vā.’
‘Who is your friend or acquaintance?’

After the original owner tells their names, e.g.,

‘Uttaro bhikkhu ca tisso sāmaṇero ca.’
‘Bhikkhu Uttaro and Sāmaṇera Tisso.’

The witness then says:

‘Ahaṁ tesaṁ dammi.’ ‘I give it to them.’

or

‘Ahaṁ uttarassa bhikkhuno ca tissassa sāmaṇerassa dammi.’
‘I give it to Bhikkhu Uttaro and Sāmaṇera Tisso.’

Vin.IV.122

To share a bowl: ‘cīvaraṁ’ → ‘pattaṁ’

If more than one article is to be shared substitute the plural form as in Generally Addressing above.

When the item is beyond forearm’s length substitute as in Generally Addressing above.

Vikappana-paccuddharaṇa (Relinquishing Shared Ownership)

Before actually using the shared article, the other bhikkhu must relinquish his share.

If the other bhikkhu is senior, and the article is within forearm’s length:

‘Imaṁ cīvaraṁ mayhaṁ santakaṁ paribhuñja vā visajjehi vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karohi.’
‘This robe of mine: you may use it, give it away, or do as you wish with it.’

Kv.122

When more than one robe is being relinquished:

‘imaṁ cīvaraṁ’ → ‘imāni cīvarāni’
‘santakaṁ’ → ‘santakāni’

When the second owner is junior:

‘paribhuñja’ → ‘paribhuñjatha’
‘visajjehi’ → ‘visajjetha’
‘karohi’ → ‘karotha’

If the articles are beyond forearm’s length, change case accordingly:

‘imaṁ’ (this) → ‘etaṁ’ (that)
‘imāni’ (these) → ‘etāni’ (those)

To rescind the shared ownership in the case when the receiving bhikkhu is absent, the witness says:

‘Tesaṁ santakaṁ paribhuñja vā vissajjehi vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karohi.’
‘Use what is theirs, give it away or do as you like with it.’

To rescind the shared ownership of a bowl:
‘cīvaraṁ’ → ‘pattaṁ’

and alter according to Generally Addressing above.

The practice of some communities when sharing ownership of a bowl is that permission is not required before using it. However, if the first owner wishes to determine a shared bowl, the second owner should relinquish it first.