Lzh Dg Bi Pm Pc 89Crying
Pāli / Sanskrit:Rodana
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Explanation of the Rodana Sutta (Crying)
Background
The Rodana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, the collection of rules and training guidelines for the community of monks and nuns. This sutta lies within the Pātimokkha section, or the regulations related to going forth and managing the community. The title “Rodana” (Crying), though it sounds simple, refers to a profound matter of practice connected with emotion, self-control, and ethics in the life of monks and nuns.
In the historical context, the Buddha instructed bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs concerning actions, speech, and mental states not in accord with the noble Dharma. The regulations on “crying” (rodana) were set forth to help practitioners clearly recognize the control of negative emotions and develop concentration in the work of practice.
Main Content
The Rodana Sutta concerns situations in which bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs experience intense emotions such as tears, lamentation, or weeping. This regulation does not condemn crying as a merely physiological response, but guides emotional and mental balance.
According to the spirit of the Vinaya Piṭaka, when practitioners witness sorrowful things (dukkha), or when they themselves encounter loss or illness, the Buddha does not completely forbid crying. However, the sutta indicates that practitioners should clearly recognize the nature of this emotion. Crying should not become a complete surrender to greed, hatred, delusion, or obsessions with self.
The key point is clear awareness (sampajañña). Even if tears flow, the mind must remain pure, not mixed with ignorance. This is the difference between one who practices the Buddha-Dharma and an ordinary person: we do not control natural reactions, but we can control the attitude of the mind toward them.
Practical Meaning
The Rodana Sutta teaches us that the Buddha-Dharma does not entirely deny human emotions. What it emphasizes is the degree of clear knowing (vipassanā) of the illusory nature of “I” within those emotions.
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