Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Sk 11Squatting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ukkuṭika
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Ukkuṭika Sutta (The Squatting Posture Sutta)
Background
The Ukkuṭika Sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic rules of practice for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. This discourse is cited in the early historical context of the Sangha, when the Buddha and his disciples were still living at various places of practice.
The title “Ukkuṭika” (squatting, also called sitting with the knees drawn up) refers to a specific bodily posture, one of the traditional sitting postures of ancient Indian monastics. This posture is regarded as a form of bodily discipline and a training of concentration in the life of practice. This discourse reflects the concern of the Buddha and the early Sangha with the coordination and regulation of the body in practice.
Main Content
The Ukkuṭika Sutta records the Buddha’s instructions concerning monastics sitting in the squatting posture, a way of sitting in which the two legs are folded close to the body. This posture was commonly used in meditation and quiet practice. The discourse sets forth rules on how to assume this posture suitably, in order to ensure respect for the body and avoid situations that are undignified or disrespectful.
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this discourse is not only a technical instruction about a sitting posture, but also reflects a broader principle: attention to detail in daily actions and the understanding that every gesture and every posture of the practitioner has ethical and spiritual meaning. Squatting is considered part of right practice, an expression of the Noble Eightfold Path through control of the body.
This discourse also records specific situations in which monastics should not sit in the squatting posture, such as when appearing before noble persons or in certain social circumstances, in order to maintain a balance between inward discipline and social courtesy.
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