Lzh Mi Bi Pm Sk 83On Plants
Pāli / Sanskrit:Hariteuccāra
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AN EXPLANATION OF THE HARITEUCCĀRA DISCOURSE (THE DISCOURSE ON PLANTS)
Background
The Hariteuccāra discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition and is found among the rules concerning the daily life of monks and nuns. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, texts on “plants” (harita, green plants) are not lofty philosophical teachings, but concrete guidance on how the Sangha should conduct itself toward nature and the plants around it.
This discourse was transmitted in the context of the Buddha and his disciples living in forests and open places, where vegetation grew naturally. At that time, the question of damaging or protecting the plant world was a practical ethical matter, not merely theory.
Main Content
The Hariteuccāra discourse clearly regulates the attitude of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs toward plants and herbs. According to the spirit of Theravāda Buddhism, the unnecessary destruction of plant species is regarded as an unwholesome act (akusala), causing harm to potential living beings within them.
Specifically, the Vinaya does not allow those gone forth to arbitrarily cut trees, pull up grass, or destroy green areas. These actions are regarded as violations of the spirit of loving-kindness (mettā) and non-harming (ahiṁsā), two basic principles of Buddhism. Plants, although they do not have clear consciousness like animals, are still forms of becoming (bhava) within saṃsāra, and they are part of the natural world that human beings must respect.
The Vinaya gives detailed regulations: one must not cut down large trees, damage gardens, or dig up soil mindlessly. Exceptions are allowed only in truly necessary cases, such as building a monastery, and must be carried out carefully and without waste.
The important point is that the discourse does not merely prohibit, but also guides an attitude of living in harmony with nature. It reflects a philosophical foundation: those who go forth do not do so in order to conquer or exploit nature, but to live simply, with self-mastery, and in harmony with all things.
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