Lzh Mu Bi Vb Sk 63Poking Tongue
Pāli / Sanskrit:Jivhānicchāraka
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Exposition of the Jivhānicchāraka Sutra (The Sutra on Poking Out the Tongue)
Background
The Jivhānicchāraka Sutra is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the most important disciplinary part of the scriptures of Theravāda Buddhism. Belonging to the Parivāra section (appendix), this sutra records a disciplinary rule related to informal and undignified conduct by bhikkhus.
The background took place at Sāvatthī, the city where the Buddha often taught. A bhikkhu, while carrying out basic duties of care or perhaps while interacting with others, poked out his tongue in a careless manner. This action, though small, was regarded by the Buddha as a violation of the spirit of discipline and dignity that a bhikkhu must maintain at all times.
The Vinaya Piṭaka records such small violations not to speak ill of anyone, but to teach bhikkhus that practice of the Buddha-Dharma does not stop at great actions, but also requires attention to every detail of body, speech, and mind.
Main Content
According to the record in the Vinaya Piṭaka, when the Buddha was informed of this event, he took the occasion to teach about dignity and discipline. The act of poking out the tongue was regarded as an expression of lack of vigilance (appamāda), lack of respect for the Dharma, or perhaps a sign of negligence in practice.
The Buddha emphasized that bhikkhus must maintain high standards of conduct in every circumstance. No action is too small to overlook, because practice is a comprehensive process, including even things that seem unimportant.
This sutra reflects the principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: every bodily action and word should be carefully controlled. This is not the sacrifice of personal freedom, but true freedom: freedom from unconscious habits and freedom from lack of restraint.
Practical Meaning
The meaning of this sutra goes far beyond the matter of poking out the tongue.
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