Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 121Nānuśāset

Explanation of the Nānuśāset Sutta

Background

The Nānuśāset Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition and is recorded in the Pāli Canon. This is a disciplinary rule within the Sangha, the community of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. The word “Nānuśāset” means “one should not instruct again” or “one should not admonish repeatedly,” reflecting an important principle in Buddhist disciplinary management.

The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules of conduct established by the Buddha to maintain purity, harmony, and discipline in the Sangha. These rules were not arbitrarily created by human beings, but were based on specific situations that arose, in which the Buddha used the occasion to teach principles of practice. The Nānuśāset Sutta is a typical example of the way the Buddha handled disciplinary issues.

Main Content

The Nānuśāset Sutta concerns a situation related to admonishing or instructing a bhikkhu again regarding his fault or negligence. The basic principle of this sutta is that after a bhikkhu has been properly admonished once, if he does not amend his conduct, he is not to be admonished again a second or third time. This is not due to lack of compassion, but to the principle of respecting each individual’s freedom of choice and responsibility.

In the Theravāda tradition, practicing in accordance with the Vinaya is regarded as an expression of reverence for the Dharma and the Sangha. However, the Buddha Dharma also does not compel absolutely: each bhikkhu has the right to decide his own conduct. If someone has been admonished once but still intentionally violates the rule, further admonitions will not produce good results and may even give rise to anger or resistance.

Therefore, the Nānuśāset Sutta establishes a practical rule: one need not admonish repeatedly if the person has already been warned and is clearly aware of his fault. The decision to amend conduct belongs to that person himself.