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 ⁵ belong to the Samgha.' Then the

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[paragraph continues] 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 ¹'

Footnotes

343:5 Parikkhâro; that is, the eight things over which a member p. 344 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.