Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 101In Water

EXPOSITION OF THE UDAKEUCCĀRA SUTTA (THE SUTTA ON SPEECH IN WATER)

Background

The Udakeuccāra Sutta (Pāli: udaka = water, uccāra = speech/voice) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. This is a subtle disciplinary regulation concerning the actions of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs in the early Buddhist monastery.

This text arose from a specific event during communal practice in the time when the Buddha was still alive. When monks and nuns in the Sangha acted or spoke in ways unsuitable to discipline, the Buddha gave instructions to protect the form of practice. The Udakeuccāra Sutta refers to a case in which speech is uttered in a special circumstance — specifically, while in water — and to the handling of related violations.

Main Content

According to the Pāli Canon tradition, this text concerns the principle of handling violations of speech or action that occur in unusual circumstances. Although the specific content of this text has not been fully translated in available materials, in the general context of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka it concerns matters such as:

First, a specific reference to determining disciplinary responsibility when a bhikkhu speaks or acts in water. The Vinaya Piṭaka carefully considers special situations in which a practitioner is not fully alert or is affected by difficult circumstances.

Second, this text may refer to distinguishing between words or actions performed with deliberate intent to violate a rule and those arising from negligence or unavoidable circumstances. In the Vinaya Piṭaka, cetanā (intention) plays a key role in determining the degree of offense.

Third, the content may relate to the purification of action when violations are discovered, or to measures for restoring discipline in the Sangha. Confession ceremonies (pāṭidesanā) and the confirmation of the Sangha are carefully considered in such cases.