Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 173Dancing

Exposition of the Sutta: Dancing

Background

The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules and guidance for religious training that the Buddha laid down for the Saṅgha, the community of monks and nuns. Within it, the Pātimokkha is the core of the sacred discipline, consisting of 227 rules, or 311 rules for nuns. These rules are not unreasonable impositions, but arose from specific situations when the Buddha’s disciples were not careful in action, speech, and thought.

The sutta on dancing appears in the context of regulations concerning sense restraint and fundamental discipline. It is part of the smaller rules (kshudraka-vatta), specific actions that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī should not practice.

Main Content

This sutta concerns the act of dancing, regarded as a form of entertainment unsuitable for the holy life of practice. In ancient Indian society, dance was a form of performance art, often associated with celebrations, festivals, or lively places of amusement.

The Buddha instructed bhikkhus not to take part in these activities because they distract mindfulness (anupassanā) and stimulate latent emotions and desires. Dancing, with movement, music, lights, and the attention of the crowd, is a perfect condition for greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha) to arise and develop.

This rule also aims to protect the honor of the Saṅgha. If monastics dance before the public, this may cause people to lose faith in the Buddhist community. A bhikkhu should be understood as one who has gone forth to practice, not as an entertainer.

Practical Meaning

The rule concerning dancing teaches us the importance of guarding the sense doors (indriya-samvara). Buddhist monastics practice sati (mindfulness) and sampajañña (clear comprehension), always knowing clearly what they are doing and why. The act of dancing, though not evil in itself, stirs up attachment and shakes concentration of mind.