Lzh Mg Bu Pm Pc 86Sitting Mats
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nisīdana
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The Scripture on the Sitting Mat (Nisīdana)
Background
The Nisīdana belongs to the section of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka governing the practical conduct of Buddhist monastics. In its historical context, during the time when the Blessed One was still in the world, the bhikkhus were required to live with the minimal requisites necessary to support their practice. The sitting mat (nisīdana)—regarded as an essential article for the practice of meditation and seated contemplation—became the subject of careful regulation.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the personal belongings of monastics are divided into specific categories, each with restrictions concerning quantity, size, and material. The Nisīdana addresses these regulations in order to teach the spirit of moderation, avoidance of excess, and respect for the communal property of the Sangha.
Principal Content
In the Vinaya Piṭaka, the sitting mat is stipulated as a necessary requisite for a bhikkhu to use in meditation, particularly when engaging in the practice of seated contemplation (bhāvanā). The scripture specifies that a bhikkhu may possess a sitting mat made of suitable materials—ordinarily cloth or woven fiber—of a certain size and weight, so as to avoid both extravagance and insufficiency.
Under this rule, if a bhikkhu requires an additional sitting mat because the previous one has worn out or become unsuitable, he must obtain the permission of the Sangha. Should a bhikkhu possess too many sitting mats, or mats made of excessively luxurious materials unsuitable to the life of one who has gone forth, this is regarded as a violation of the spirit of discipline.
The scripture also addresses the use of communal sitting mats within the Sangha—those kept at places of collective practice—and the regulations concerning their care and cleanliness for the benefit of the monastic community. Offenses related to improper use or damage of sitting mats are considered transgressions requiring confession in accordance with the Pātimokkha.
Practical Significance
The Nisīdana is not merely a set of regulations concerning a material object; it carries profound significance for Buddhist practice.
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