Lzh Mi Bi Pm Sk 63Poking Tongue
Pāli / Sanskrit:Jivhānicchāraka
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
An Explanation of the Jivhānicchāraka Discourse (The Discourse on Sticking Out the Tongue)
Background
The Jivhānicchāraka discourse (Pāli: jivhā = tongue, nicchāraka = to put forth, or translated as “sticking out the tongue”) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It belongs to the rules of practice concerning the pure way of life of members of the Sangha. These legal collections are not arbitrary restrictions, but deeply grounded guidelines arising from the Buddha’s understanding of human nature and the path of practice.
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, regulations concerning the body and conduct all have the purpose of training the mind and reducing craving and afflictions. This discourse is presented in the context of monastic discipline, where the Buddha and senior monks often discussed how small actions can affect practice and the discipline of the monastic community.
Main Content
The Jivhānicchāraka discourse concerns the act of “sticking out the tongue” mockingly or carelessly. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is considered an undignified action, unsuitable to the status of a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī. The tongue is regarded as an instrument of mind and speech, two exceedingly important factors in Buddhism.
The act of sticking out the tongue, though it may seem minor, reflects a lack of control over the senses and a lack of dignity in practice. The Buddha emphasized that such trivial actions should not occur, for they run counter to the basic teachings on samādhi (concentration) and the guarding of the sense faculties (indriya-saṃvara).
This discourse is recorded in the legal collections of the Pāli Canon as part of the detailed regulations concerning the lifestyle and conduct of members of the Sangha. It reminds us that even the smallest movements have significance for practice, and that attention to detail is the sign of a true monastic.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.