Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 3Na vikīrṇaṁ nivāsayiṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na vikīrṇaṁ nivāsayiṣyāma
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Commentary on the Sūtra Na vikīrṇaṁ nivāsayiṣyāma
Context
This verse appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Bhikkhuṇī Pātimokkha—the list of precepts designated for bhikkhuṇīs. The Vinaya Piṭaka consists of detailed teachings on the practice of discipline and proper conduct within the Sangha of Theravāda Buddhism.
The verse "Na vikīrṇaṁ nivāsayiṣyāma" (We shall not allow a dwelling to be left in disarray) is connected to regulations concerning the maintenance of order and cleanliness in the communal residences of the Sangha. This is an expression of the principle of Sīla (Virtue) in Buddhism—the ethical foundation of the life of practice.
The historical context shows that these regulations were established by the Blessed One in response to specific situations that arose within the monastic community. Each verse in the Pātimokkha is not a coercive command but rather a reflection of understanding regarding the natural consequences of actions, intended to protect harmony and wholesome intention within the Sangha.
Principal Content
This verse focuses on the practice of protecting one's living space—an important aspect of the Vinaya. "Vikīrṇa" means "scattered, strewn about, disordered," while "nivāsayiṣyāma" carries the meaning "we shall cause to dwell, maintain, permit to remain." The verse as a whole affirms a collective undertaking: members of the Sangha shall not permit communal residences—whether in monasteries or meditation centers—to become scattered, disordered, or in disarray.
This is not merely a matter of hygiene or aesthetics. In Theravāda Buddhism, physical order reflects spiritual order. A disordered space corresponds to a distracted, unfocused mind. Conversely, a tidy and clean dwelling creates favorable conditions for the development of meditation (jhāna) and wisdom (paññā).
Bhikkhuṇīs are called upon to maintain this order not out of fear or compulsion, but for the sake of the spiritual advancement of the entire community.
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