Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 98Making Ill at Ease

Explanation of the Aphāsukaraṇa Sutta (Making Ill at Ease)

Background

The Aphāsukaraṇa Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition and is recorded in the Pāli Canon. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of training rules and regulations for managing the community of monks and nuns, established by the Buddha Śākyamuni to maintain discipline and harmony in the Sangha.

This text arose from specific situations in the practice life of monastics. Monastics who did not follow the Buddha’s guidance caused discontent and loss of harmony in the community. Because of this, the Buddha issued precepts connected with not causing unease (dukkha), not making others unsettled, and not losing an attitude of respect in collective practice.

The term “Aphāsuka” (ā + phāsuka) means “uncomfortable, not at ease, uneasy,” and “karaṇa” means “action, causing.” Thus, Aphāsukaraṇa refers to actions that cause unease and disturb the spirit of harmony in the Sangha.

Main Content

In this text, the Buddha reminds monastics that one gone forth should not perform actions or use words that cause unease or make oneself or others lose composure. In particular, monastics with reputation or high standing in the Sangha must be even more careful, because their actions have a broad effect on the entire community of practice.

The text emphasizes that causing unease is not limited to coarse actions or bitter words, but also includes subtle ways of behaving that can break trust and diminish the spirit of cooperation in the Sangha. The Buddha encourages monastics to consider carefully the effects of their actions and words before carrying them out, in order to protect stillness, discipline, and mutual respect.

This precept is also related to respecting collective decisions and not creating unnecessary disturbance or disagreement in meetings or shared activities of the Sangha.