Lzh Mu Bi Vb Sk 79Nisinno sayanassa
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nisinno sayanassa
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Nisinno Sayanassa Sutta — The Rule on Sitting and Lying Postures
Background
The Nisinno Sayanassa Sutta is a text belonging to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules and behavioral guidance established by the Buddha for the community of monks and nuns, in order to maintain discipline and create favorable conditions for the practice leading to liberation.
This sutta arises from the historical context of the early Sangha. Monks and nuns during the Buddha’s lifetime encountered situations that needed to be regulated. In the case of Nisinno Sayanassa, these are instructions concerning bodily posture — specifically sitting and lying postures — that monastics should observe in the context of daily life and meditative practice.
The title Nisinno Sayanassa means “when sitting, when lying” (nisinno = sitting; sayanassa = of one who is lying down, or related to the lying posture). These are practical rules that help monks and nuns preserve bodily discipline (kāya-saṃvara).
Main Content
Although the descriptive information does not provide the specific content of this sutta, based on the structure of the Vinaya Piṭaka, Nisinno Sayanassa instructs monks and nuns in rules related to bodily posture in various situations. This includes:
First, instructions on proper sitting posture — how to sit in meditation (jhāna), during Dharma instruction, or in communal ceremonies. Correct sitting posture not only helps a monastic concentrate the mind, but also expresses respect for the Dharma and the community of practice.
Second, rules concerning the lying posture. In Theravāda Buddhism, the preferred lying posture is the “lion’s posture” (sihaseyya) — lying on one side in a prescribed direction, the left hand beneath the pillow, the right hand on the body, and the legs placed one upon the other. This is the posture taught by the Buddha because it helps a monastic protect the mind from dullness in sleep and remain ready to awaken when needed.
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