Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 96Sitting Without Permission

Anāpucchāabhinisīdana Sutta: Sitting Without Asking Permission

Background

The Anāpucchāabhinisīdana Sutta, Sitting Without Asking Permission, appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha. This text reflects the detailed training rules established by the Buddha Śākyamuni to maintain discipline in the community of female monastics.

The background for this rule is tied to specific situations in the community of bhikkhunīs. The Buddha did not set down prohibitions without practical reason. Each rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka arose from recorded events, from which the Buddha guided the Sangha along the path of purity and harmony.

The rule concerning “sitting without asking permission” refers to a simple action that is nevertheless deeply connected with the spirit of reverence, respect, and collective practice. It is not merely an external behavioral regulation, but an expression of an attitude of reverence and spiritual obedience.

Main Content

According to the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, the Anāpucchāabhinisīdana rule provides that a bhikkhunī should not sit down on the seat or in the space of a senior bhikkhunī, or of one in a position deserving respect, without permission (anāpucchā, without asking or requesting permission).

The act of “sitting” (abhinisīdana) here does not carry only a physical meaning, but also symbolizes taking another person’s space, resources, or position without respect. When a female monastic sits down on another’s seat without first asking permission, the act is regarded as disrespectful and as violating the shared order of the Sangha organization.

This rule differs according to context: some seats are reserved for nuns who have a function of spiritual leadership, or for those who are elderly, or for those with special virtue. Respecting these distinctions by asking permission before sitting is a way of expressing esteem and humility.