Lzh Mi Bu Vb Pc 87Sitting Mats

Explanation of the Nisīdana Text (Sitting Mat)

Background

Nisīdana, a sitting mat, is a disciplinary matter belonging to the Pātimokkha, the collection of basic rules that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe. This rule is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession. The appearance of this rule reflects a practical historical context: in early Buddhism, monastics needed specific guidance on how to use the common property of the Sangha, in order to avoid waste and maintain harmony within the community.

According to the Theravāda tradition, the Buddha taught not only concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā), but also sīla, discipline, the rules of action that form the foundation for the life of practice. These rules are not arbitrary constraints, but tools that help monastics focus the mind and reduce defilements that obstruct the path to liberation.

Main Content

The rule concerning Nisīdana relates to the use of sitting mats or cushions owned in common by the Sangha. Specifically, if a bhikkhu takes a community sitting mat for private use without permission, or keeps it without returning it, this is considered a Pācittiya offense. Pācittiya is a type of offense that can be remedied through confession before a member of the Sangha.

Behind this rule is the principle of communality (sādhāraṇa). In the Sangha, property and means of living, from robes to daily requisites, are regarded as belonging to the community, not to the individual. A bhikkhu who gives rise to the intention to leave the household life and go forth also gives rise to the intention to renounce ownership of property. Therefore, using common items such as a sitting mat in an undisciplined way may be regarded as a subtle form of greed, contradicting the aspiration of renunciation.

Meaning for Practice

In the context of early practice, Nisīdana is not only a rule about particular mats or cushions.