Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 47Aṅgulinillehaka
Pāli / Sanskrit:Aṅgulinillehaka
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Aṅgulinillehaka: Licking the Fingers
Background
The Aṅgulinillehaka (The One Who Licks the Fingers) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, recorded within the Pātimokkha and Vibhaṅga—the most detailed sections of monastic discipline in early Buddhism. This text centers on a situation involving a violation of the rules of conduct for a monk, nun, or lay follower within the Saṅgha community.
According to the Theravāda tradition, this context reflects the need to establish specific rules of behavior in order to maintain discipline and mutual respect among members of the Buddhist community. The specific situations found in the Vinaya Piṭaka are typically recounted when a transgression occurs, whereupon the Buddha or senior disciples set forth teachings and precepts of prohibition.
Main Content
The Aṅgulinillehaka concerns the act of licking another person's fingers—an action regarded as frivolous and incompatible with the dignity and discipline befitting one who has gone forth in the holy life. Within the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this act is commonly associated with a lack of self-restraint, a loss of self-control, or a sensual intent.
The Vinaya Piṭaka records specific situations in order to help members of the Saṅgha clearly understand the boundaries of right conduct. When a transgression of frivolity or disrespect occurs—including actions that may appear minor, such as licking another person's fingers—it constitutes a violation of the principles of moral virtue (sīla) and heedfulness (appamāda) that one who follows the Dharma is required to uphold.
This pertains not only to the avoidance of unseemly actions, but also reflects a broader principle: one who has undertaken the path of practice must restrain the sense faculties, preserve dignity, and demonstrate respect toward oneself and toward others.
Practical Significance
Although at first glance this text concerns a specific and rather unusual act, its deeper nature lies in the application of the Five Precepts (Pañcasīla) and the Eight Precepts (Aṭṭhasīla) in daily life.
🌏 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.