Lzh Mg Bu Pm Sk 23Na niṣaṇṇo hastaṁ kokṛtyamvā pādakaukṛtyamvā

Commentary on the Sūtra Na niṣaṇṇo hastaṁ kokṛtyamvā pādakaukṛtyamvā

Background

This sūtra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, which records the rules of training and communal discipline for monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a body of administrative regulations but a set of practical guidelines that assist practitioners in restraining unwholesome actions of body (kāya), speech (vāca), and mind (citta).

This sūtra centers on the practice of restraint—a fundamental aspect of the monastic life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunīs. The careful attention given to bodily conduct, particularly to "minor" actions such as the movement of the hands and feet, reflects a profound awareness of each present moment. This is an expression of Right Mindfulness (Sammā-sati) and Right Concentration (Sammā-samādhi)—two essential factors on the path of practice of the Noble Eightfold Path.

Main Content

The phrase Na niṣaṇṇo hastaṁ kokṛtyamvā pādakaukṛtyamvā means: "When seated, the practitioner should not fidget with the hands or move the feet in an unmindful or heedless manner." This is a specific rule aimed at cultivating stillness and bodily restraint.

In the context of Theravāda practice, sitting—especially during meditation or the recitation of texts—is a sacred posture requiring complete and undivided attention. Movements such as fidgeting with the hands (hastaṁ kokṛtya) or shifting the feet (pādakaukṛtya) not only disrupt mental composure but also reflect inner agitation and distraction. Even such small movements can affect the practitioner themselves and likewise disturb those around them within the community.

This rule emphasizes the principle of Indriya-saṃvara—the restraint of the sense faculties. Not confining itself solely to grave actions such as killing or stealing, Theravāda Buddhism reminds us that every action, however small, is capable of producing an effect (karma).