Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Sk 44Poking Tongue

Jivhānicchāraka Sutta (The Sutta on Sticking Out the Tongue)

Background

The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, recording a disciplinary event in the Sangha while the Buddha was still alive. Vinaya texts such as this were recognized by the Buddha in order to build an ethical and disciplinary foundation for the community of monks and nuns. The event occurred while the Buddha was residing at one of the places where he taught the Dharma. The background of the text is directly connected with a wrongful action by a bhikkhu, a violation related not only to discipline but also to respect and etiquette within the community of renunciants.

The Vinaya Piṭaka records these violations not for the sake of criticism, but for education and to prepare clear guidelines for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs to follow the Pātimokkha precisely. Understanding the cause that led to each rule helps modern scholars grasp the ancient spirit of the Buddha-Dharma.

Main Content

The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta describes a disciplinary situation concerning the act of “sticking out the tongue” (jivhā nicchāraka) by a bhikkhu. Although this action may seem harmless, the Buddha pointed it out as a violation of an important rule. Specifically, sticking out the tongue before others, especially in a context connected with insult or disrespect toward senior monks or lay devotees, is regarded as rude conduct and unsuitable to the status of one gone forth.

Through detailed instruction on this event, the Buddha established that actions that appear “minor” also need to be taught about and prevented. The deeper reason is that external action is an expression of the mind within. One gone forth should not allow his image to become distorted, nor should he perform actions that could diminish the confidence of the lay community in the Sangha.