BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Pali formulae: Shared ownershipAppendix Vthe article redetermined before ten days elapse. Otherwise, he is subject to thepenalties imposed by NP 1 or 21.V. Pali formulae: Shared ownership.The topic of shared ownership, together with the various controversies connectedwith it, are discussed in detail under Pc 59. Here we will simply give the formulae.There are two formulae for sharing ownership in the presence of the second owner.The first — taking as an example a piece of robe-cloth within reach of the hand —is this:Imaṃ cīvaraṃ tuyhaṃ vikappemi,meaning, "I share ownership of this robe-cloth with you (plural)."To place a bowl under shared ownership, change cīvaraṃ to pattaṃ. For more thanone piece of cloth, change imaṃ cīvaraṃ to imāni cīvarāni. For more than one bowl,change imaṃ pattaṃ to ime patte. For articles beyond the reach of the hand,change imaṃ to etaṃ; imāni to etāni; and ime to ete.The second formula — less formal than the first — is:Imaṃ civaraṃ Itthannāmassa vikappemi,which means, "I share ownership of this robe-cloth with so-and-so." Suppose, forexample, that the person's name is Nando. If he is one's senior, changeItthannāmassa to Āyasmato Nandassa; if he is one's junior, change it to NandassaBhikkhuno; if he is a novice, change it to Nandassa Sāmaṇerassa. If he is verymuch one's senior, use the first formula, above. (Mv.I.74.1 shows that the traditionin the Buddha's time was not to use a very senior or respected person's name whenreferring to him.)To share a bowl in this way, change cīvaraṃ to pattaṃ. Other changes, as called for,may be inferred from the previous formulae.To place a piece of robe-cloth under shared ownership with two people who areabsent, say to a witness:Imaṃ cīvaraṃ vikappan'atthāya tuyhaṃ dammi,which means, "I give this robe-cloth to you to share." The witness should ask theoriginal owner the names of two bhikkhus or novices who are his friends oracquaintances. In Pali, this is:479