Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Sk 82Not Spit Towards Stupa

Commentary on the Scripture “Not Spitting Toward a Stupa”

Background

This scripture is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition and reflects early Buddhism’s concern with the most basic rules of conduct within the community of monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of prohibitions, but a concrete expression of the Dharma: the way the Buddha’s teachings are lived through daily action.

The scripture speaks about spitting, a matter that may seem trivial, but in the context of a Buddhist monastery it carries deep meaning. The stupa is a sacred religious structure, a place containing the ashes of the Buddha or noble beings, and a symbol of the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Handling the body in a disrespectful way is an offense against these sacred values.

Main Content

The Vinaya passages concerning spitting toward a stupa are usually recorded as clear rules that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must follow. Spitting toward a sacred structure such as a stupa is regarded as an irreverent act, violating a basic principle of monastic life.

This rule arose from a specific event or from instances of misconduct recorded in the early history of the Sangha. The Buddha established such rules to nurture the character of his disciples, or in other words, to train them in respect, mindfulness, and awareness of the noble purpose of the renunciant life.

In the Vinaya Piṭaka, such offenses are generally classified by degree of seriousness. Although they are not the gravest offenses, such as Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, they are still regarded as violations requiring correction, confession, or retraining. This shows that Buddhism holds that no action is “too small” to be overlooked; every gesture and every word is an opportunity to practice the Buddha’s path.