Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 62Royal Compounds
Pāli / Sanskrit:Antepura
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Commentary on the Antepura Sutta (Royal Compounds)
Background
The Antepura Sutta is one rule within the Pātimokkha (the code of discipline for monastics) belonging to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. The Vinaya was compiled following the First Council, with the aim of maintaining discipline within the Saṅgha as the Buddha-Dhamma spread far and wide. This rule appears in the section on Pācittiya offenses (those requiring confession and expiation), specifically among the regulations concerning the interaction of monks with royal figures and restricted areas.
The Pāli word "Antepura" (anta-pura) means "inner palace" or "the forbidden precinct of the royal household" — the private residence of the king, queen, and members of the royal family. This rule reflects the social context of ancient India, where royal palaces were governed by distinct protocols regarding access and conduct.
Principal Content
The Antepura rule stipulates that monks should not enter royal palaces of their own accord without proper reason. In particular, the regulations apply to situations in which a monk has been invited by the royal household or has been granted permission to enter such areas.
This rule cautions against latent dangers: becoming attached to comfort, royal power, and interactions that may give rise to misunderstanding or cause harm to the honor of the Saṅgha. When coming into contact with royalty, a monk must maintain absolute mindfulness, not allowing himself to be swayed by ephemeral benefits or influenced by worldly power.
The principle also concerns the matter of social ethics: monks are those who have gone forth from the household life, and therefore their primary concern is not affairs of state or the administration of royal authority, but the cultivation of the True Dhamma. This Vinaya rule is intended to protect the spiritual independence and purity of the Saṅgha from the influence of worldly powers.
Practical Significance
The Antepura Sutta does not apply solely to contact with royalty, but carries a profound meaning for contemporary practice as well.
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