Lzh Dg Bi Vb Sk 43Slurping

Surusurukāraka Sutta (Sutta on Making Slurping Sounds)

Background

The Surusurukāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya texts in this Basket record regulations on the discipline and proper conduct of those gone forth, in order to protect the purity of the Sangha and maintain the spirit of practice.

The background for the formation of this sutta arose from specific cases during the time when the Buddha and the bhikkhus lived together. When issues of conduct and discipline arose, the Buddha established training rules (dhamma) to guide the monastic community. The Surusurukāraka Sutta is one of the detailed regulations intended to educate bhikkhus in dignity in daily conduct.

The title “Slurping” (Surusurukāraka) specifically indicates the action of making slurping sounds, an action that seems small but deeply reflects lack of care and coarseness in a practitioner’s deportment.

Main Content

The Surusurukāraka Sutta prescribes that bhikkhus should not make slurping sounds when eating or drinking. Specifically, sucking or slurping (surusurukāra) is inappropriate conduct for one gone forth because it expresses lack of respect, carelessness, and a greedy quality in eating.

This rule is not without reason. According to the Theravāda tradition, bhikkhus must practice step by step, not only in the mind but also in physical conduct. Every movement and every sound is observed and regulated. When eating, a bhikkhu should eat patiently, quietly, without making sounds, only to nourish the body; this is the way to follow the principle “eat to live, not live to eat” (yathā-bhojanaṁ).

The act of making slurping sounds is considered a disciplinary offense, and depending on the circumstances, it may be regarded as a Dukkaṭa (wrongdoing) or another degree of fault. Such violations are recorded in detail in the Pātimokkha (the Bhikkhu Precepts) and are taught regularly in the monastic community.