Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 45Sitting in Private
Pāli / Sanskrit:Rahonisajja
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Rahonisajja Sutta – Sitting in Private
Background
The Rahonisajja Sutta comes from the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, specifically the Pātimokkha Saṃvara, the laws of practice that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe. This discourse was recorded to guide renunciant disciples regarding their own conduct when in private, with no one witnessing them.
The Buddha saw that true practice does not stop at observing discipline before the Sangha community, but must also be expressed in solitary moments. It is precisely in such times that the true nature of a practitioner’s mind becomes clearest. Therefore, this text particularly emphasizes the importance of self-control and constant mindfulness when alone.
Main Content
The Rahonisajja Sutta, or “Sitting in Private,” teaches that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī, when sitting privately alone, must still maintain a pure mind and proper conduct, no different from being among many people. This is not an external command, but guidance on inner practice.
The specific content of this discourse has not been fully translated in common materials, but according to the general context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the text revolves around criteria such as practicing meditation sincerely, preserving inward disciplines such as avoiding sensual desire, anger, and delusion, not doing things that others would disapprove of if they knew, and maintaining mindfulness in each moment.
The discourse emphasizes that “one is one’s own witness,” a profound idea in the Buddhadharma that ultimately only we ourselves know whether we have practiced sincerely or not. This is different from keeping discipline out of fear of being discovered or a wish to be praised by others.
Practical Meaning
The Rahonisajja Sutta teaches us a precious lesson: the practice of the Buddhadharma is not an outward mode of behavior, but an inner transformation.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.