Lzh Dg Bu Pm Sk 88On the Ground
Pāli / Sanskrit:Chamā
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Chamā Discourse: On Sitting on the Ground
Background
The Chamā discourse, in Vietnamese “On the ground,” is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of training rules and communal discipline for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, issued by the Buddha Śākyamuni to maintain the purity of the Sangha.
This discourse belongs to the rules concerning daily life and basic disciplinary practice of bhikkhus. Unlike sūtras that focus on ethical teachings and truths, the Vinaya Piṭaka is detailed practical guidance that educates monastics in how to act in accord with Buddhism.
The content of this discourse is directly related to monastics sitting on the ground, a matter that seems small but carries profound meaning regarding humility, respect, and the relationship between human beings and nature in the Theravāda school.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka tradition, the Chamā discourse regulates the conditions and manner in which a bhikkhu may sit on the ground. This is not an arbitrary action, but must follow specific principles intended to avoid harming small living beings hidden in the earth.
According to the first sīla, the first of the five basic precepts (Pañcasīla), a practitioner undertakes not to kill living beings, meaning not to intentionally harm or destroy life. Sitting carelessly on the ground may lead to killing insects or microorganisms living in the soil, thereby violating the spirit embedded in the precept.
This discourse provides specific guidance on how a bhikkhu should prepare the ground before sitting, such as sweeping it clean or laying down a cloth or mat to create distance from the natural ground, thereby reducing the possibility of harm. This action reflects the principle of ahiṃsā, nonviolence, in Buddhism, a foundational value of the Buddha’s path.
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