Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 63Poking Tongue

Poking the Tongue Out — Jivhānicchāraka

Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 63 | Comparative Vinaya — Chinese | Sectarian Scriptures · Comparative

---

Source Status

The text numbered Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 63 belongs to the Comparative Vinaya — Chinese collection within the Sectarian Scriptures · Comparative system. This is an item of Vinaya comparison among the sectarian traditions, preserved and classified under the Pāli/Sanskrit name Jivhānicchāraka, literally meaning “poking out the tongue” or “the act of extending the tongue outward.” The full original source text has not yet been fully compared within the available documentation; therefore, this exposition is not a translation of the original sutra, but only an analysis based on the provided descriptive information. Readers should note that specific details about the situation, persons involved, or the official ruling in the original text cannot be fully confirmed here.

---

Background

The Comparative Vinaya — Chinese is a scholarly work intended to collect and compare corresponding disciplinary rules appearing in multiple Vinaya systems of different Buddhist sectarian traditions. In the history of Buddhism in India and neighboring regions, after the period of sectarian division, each tradition formed and maintained its own Vinaya. Although there are differences in detail and language, many legal provisions share a common origin, reflecting the basic rules of conduct that the Buddha promulgated for the Sangha.

The item Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 63 lies within a series of comparative rules, numbered according to this collection’s own classification system. The name Jivhānicchāraka suggests that this is a provision related to a specific bodily act, poking out the tongue, recorded as a form of conduct needing regulation in the monastic life. That a seemingly minor act such as this was recorded in the Vinaya shows the subtlety and comprehensiveness with which Buddhist legal collections approach deportment, character, and the dignity of the renunciant.

---

Content Identifiable from the Descriptive Information

From the provided descriptive information, several basic points can be identified:

Name and terminology: Jivhānicchāraka in Pāli/Sanskrit is composed of jivhā (tongue) and nicchāraka (bringing out, extending out). The English title “Poking Tongue” confirms that this is a provision related to the act of poking out the tongue or extending the tongue in an inappropriate way, usually understood in a Vinaya context as a sign of lacking deportment, possibly implying contempt, provocation, or simply a lack of delicacy in communication.

Comparative character: The compound code “Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk” shows that this provision is compared across multiple Vinaya sources, possibly including Chinese translations from several sectarian traditions, reflecting agreement or difference among the traditions in regulating this specific behavior.

Scope of regulation: In Buddhist Vinaya collections, provisions concerning bodily gestures usually belong to the group of rules on deportment (sekhiya or equivalent rules in the Vinayas of other schools). These are generally matters that do not lead to grave offenses but must be observed in order to maintain the dignity and solemnity of a practitioner in all circumstances.

---

Meaning for Practice

The provision concerning the act of poking out the tongue, though it may sound very specific and minor, in fact has deep meaning for practice in the Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya does not regulate only serious conduct but also attends to each small gesture of the body, because a practitioner is expected to maintain awareness and control in every moment.

In ancient Indian culture, the act of poking out the tongue could have many meanings: contempt, joking, or the expression of uncontrolled emotion. If a monastic performed this action in front of laypeople or in public situations, it could damage the reputation of the Sangha and create an impression of lacking solemnity, inconsistent with the image of one who is on the path to liberation.

More broadly, this provision reminds practitioners of the principle of sati sampajañña, mindful clear awareness in every action of body, speech, and mind. The body is not only a biological instrument but also an expression of consciousness. A well-trained mind naturally expresses itself through calm gestures, gentle speech, and a composed attitude. Conversely, impulsive or thoughtless gestures are signs of a mind still scattered and not yet disciplined.

For practitioners today, the lesson from provisions such as Jivhānicchāraka need not be limited to the literal act of poking out the tongue, but may be extended into a principle of life: every bodily act should be guided by awareness and respect for oneself, for those around one, and for the path of practice one has chosen.

---

Comparative Note

Because the full source text of item Lzh Mu Bi Pm Sk 63 has not yet been fully compared in the available documentation, any more detailed interpretation of the offense situation, degree of fault, or handling according to each sectarian tradition must be checked directly in the relevant Chinese Vinaya translations. This exposition has only orienting reference value and cannot replace study of the original text when precise legal or scholarly content of this provision needs to be established.