Lzh Mi Bu Vb Sk 81While Standing

The Ṭhitouccāra Sutta (Defecating While Standing)

Background

The Ṭhitouccāra Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, contained within the section governing ethical infractions in the course of monastic training. The title "Defecating While Standing" refers to situations of violation that arise when monks are standing during the performance of various rites or daily activities.

The Vinaya Piṭaka was established by Śākyamuni Buddha to protect the monastic community (Sangha) and to assist its members in practicing the path free from the arising of hatred, greed, and delusion. Each rule that is recorded is not an arbitrary restriction, but rather a lesson drawn from specific historical events within the Sangha; only when a particular outcome occurred would the Buddha then establish the corresponding rule.

This sutta reflects the meticulous attention of Theravāda Buddhism toward minor actions, speech, and thoughts in daily life. Nothing is too small to be overlooked if it bears upon volitional intention (cetanā) and the purpose of practice.

Principal Content

Although the specific content of this sutta has not been fully rendered in translation within the descriptive information, it may be understood that the Ṭhitouccāra concerns infractions that occur in the standing posture (ṭhito) of monks. In the Vinaya Piṭaka, the four basic postures—sitting (nisinna), standing (ṭhito), walking (gata), and lying down (seyyā)—are regarded as contexts in which monastics are prone to committing violations.

Standing is an active posture, associated with engagement with the external world. The word "uccāra" (excretion, bodily discharge) suggests that this sutta may concern careless utterances, heedless actions, or conduct incompatible with the four rules of purity while a monk is standing in preparation for a task or during an encounter.