Lzh Dg Bu Pm Sk 11Squatting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ukkuṭika
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Ukkuṭika Sutra: The Squatting Posture in Practice
Background
The Ukkuṭika sutra is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, a part of the scriptural discipline that records detailed rules for monastic discipline within the Sangha. This sutra appears among regulations concerning the proper behavior, gestures, and postures that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe in their daily life of study and practice.
The background of the sutra records occasions when the Buddha instructed his disciples on maintaining dignity in body, speech, and mind. In particular, in the context of meditative and pure practice, the squatting posture (ukkuṭika) is mentioned as a form that helps practitioners maintain wakefulness and regulate the body appropriately. It is not always necessary to sit motionless in meditation; one must also be flexible and know how to adjust posture according to the situation of practice.
Main Content
The Ukkuṭika sutra concerns how a monastic should maintain the squatting posture (ukkuṭika), that is, sitting with the legs bent and the heels close to the buttocks, as a posture in practice, especially when practicing meditation, when needing to move lightly, or in certain situations. This posture is regarded as part of proper sīla, discipline, and ājīva, right livelihood.
The Vinaya Piṭaka records that monastics need to follow standards regarding posture and action. Squatting is not simply a way of sitting, but an expression of clear mindfulness (sati) and self-restraint. When squatting, the body is in a balanced state, ready for transitional movements or for maintaining calm. This reflects the Buddhist principle of balance: neither too tense nor too lax.
This sutra is closely connected with teachings on vinaya, discipline, and regulations concerning dignified conduct within the Sangha. It emphasizes that every bodily posture is connected with consciousness: wakefulness, concentration, respect, and ethical cultivation.
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