Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 9Na hastiśuṇḍaṁ
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na hastiśuṇḍaṁ
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Commentary on the Sūtra Na Hastiśuṇḍaṁ
Background
The sūtra Na Hastiśuṇḍaṁ is preserved within the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collections of disciplinary rules that the Buddha established for the Saṅgha. The title "Na hastiśuṇḍaṁ" (not an elephant's trunk) carries a whimsical quality, explaining a specific situation that arose in the communal life of the bhikkhus. This text does not belong among the principal Suttas but rather forms part of the vinaya teachings, serving to calibrate the standard of conduct for the Saṅgha.
In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is divided into three major sections: the Sutta Vibhaṅga (a detailed exposition of the rules), the Khandhaka (chapters on various events), and the Parivāra (appendices). The sūtra Na Hastiśuṇḍaṁ falls within the context of regulations governing daily practice, concerning matters of speech, gesture, or action that may affect the harmony of the Saṅgha.
Principal Contents
This sūtra addresses the question of words or actions that bhikkhus may perform which, depending on context, could be misunderstood. The phrase "na hastiśuṇḍaṁ" (not like an elephant's trunk) serves as an illustration of ambiguous actions—things done without clear intention or without clear outcome. The Buddha teaches that bhikkhus should avoid actions that are not straightforward, things that bear only the outward appearance of something while lacking its essential nature.
The Vinaya Piṭaka in general emphasizes that the practice of discipline is not merely the avoidance of obvious misconduct, but also the avoidance of whatever arouses doubt or undermines the confidence of others. This sūtra is closely connected to the spirit of the Pātimokkha (the code of protection), wherein each rule is established not solely for individual benefit but for the harmony of the Saṅgha and the welfare of all beings.
Practical Significance
The teaching of this sūtra retains profound relevance for Buddhist practice today. Not only must obvious misconduct be avoided, but ambiguous matters as well—actions that dwell "between two shores"—must likewise be examined with care.
🌏 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.