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Early Schools · Comparative Canon · Comparative Vinaya — Chinese

Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 10Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma

Pāli / Sanskrit:Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma

📖278 words · ~1 min read
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Interpreted by Inti AI (English)
🪷 AI interpretation

Exposition of the Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma Sutta

Background

This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon and is among the important disciplinary regulations of the Buddhist Sangha. The title “Nātyavakṛṣṭaṁ prāvariṣyāma” means “We shall carry out the Pāvāraṇā ceremony under strict regulations,” and relates to the teaching that Buddhists should not take part in entertainment, artistic performances, or actions unsuitable to the nature of practice.

The Vinaya Piṭaka was established by the Buddha to protect discipline within the Sangha and to help Buddhists maintain collectedness and purity in action. This text especially emphasizes principles of conduct for monastics, particularly on solemn occasions such as Pāvāraṇā — the ceremony marking the end of the rains retreat (Vassa).

Main Content

The text stipulates that Buddhists, especially members of the Sangha, should not take part in performances, dancing, or actions connected with worldly arts. Nātyavakṛṣṭa (nāṭya = dance, dancing performance; vakṛṣṭa = distorted, wrong) refers to deviant actions, displays unsuitable to the pure life.

The deeper reason is that such activities agitate the mind, cause loss of focus on practice, and may lead to harmful tendencies arising in the community. When conducting the Pāvāraṇā ceremony — an important annual ceremony in Theravāda Buddhism, where bhikkhus confess faults and recommit themselves to the Four Noble Truths — discipline and purity become necessary prerequisites.

The text emphasizes that observing even rules that seem small is an expression of reverence for the Dharma and commitment to practicing the Path. This is not out of fear of punishment, but from clearly understanding that one’s actions, speech, and thoughts directly affect the progress of practice and the harmony of the Sangha.

🌏Why is this sūtra summarized by Inti AI?

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Translation source: Interpreted by AILicense: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu) · EN: AI translation from Vietnamese source, awaiting source English

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