Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 95Within Their Own Country

Antoraṭṭha Sutta (The Sutta on One’s Own Country)

Background

The Antoraṭṭha Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon in the early tradition. It is part of the disciplinary rules (Pāṭimokkha) that monks and nuns must observe. The name “Within One’s Own Country” (antoraṭṭha) reflects the context of a legal issue for monks and nuns concerning locality, country, and the jurisdiction of monastic communities.

The Vinaya Piṭaka was recorded to protect the integrity of the Sangha and maintain harmony in the community serving the Buddha. These rules are not arbitrary punishments, but profound ethical principles that help disciples preserve spiritual purity and harmonious relationships.

Main Content

The Antoraṭṭha Sutta deals with disciplinary issues related to the actions of bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs within their own territory, that is, within “one’s own country” (antoraṭṭha). This may refer to lands recognized by the monastic community, or localities where monks and nuns have legal authority.

The specific content of this sutta concerns faulty or violating actions occurring within this domain. The Vinaya Piṭaka states that violations must be resolved according to the formal procedures of the Sangha. These rules are intended not only to punish but also to rehabilitate and educate, encouraging the offender to correct himself or herself.

Any legal issue arising “within one’s own country” is handled according to the principles of fairness, transparency, and the consent of the whole community of monks and nuns. This reflects the democratic spirit and noble ethics of the early tradition.

Practical Meaning

For those who practice according to the early tradition, the Antoraṭṭha Sutta reminds us that discipline is not an external imposition, but the voluntary observance of ethical principles.