Lzh Mu Bu Pm Pc 18The Upper Story of a Hut
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vehāsakuṭi
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
SUTTA ON THE UPPER STORY HUT (VEHĀSAKUṬI)
Background
The Vehāsakuṭi text appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, especially among the regulations connected with the life of monks and the facilities for spiritual cultivation. The background of this text relates to the period when the Buddha Gotama was active in Jambudīpa (ancient India), when monastic communities began to develop and needed specific guidance concerning dwelling places and communal life.
The expression "Vehāsakuṭi" consists of two components: vehāsa (dwelling, lodging room) and kuṭi (small hut, residence). However, "vehāsa" also has the sense of an "upper story" or "upper floor" (ve-hāsa), evoking the image of a two-storied architectural structure. This text is not a discourse on the spirit of awakening, but a practical regulation concerning the material standards for monks’ dwellings within the Sangha community.
Main Content
According to the Pāli canonical tradition, this text addresses a basic yet practical matter: the regulations concerning the construction and use of dwelling rooms with an upper story (vehāsakuṭi) in monasteries or Sangha training facilities. The Buddha Gotama instructed the monks about suitable conditions for building dwellings so that they accord with the spirit of simplicity and non-luxury, while also safeguarding health and providing favorable conditions for practice.
The important point is that the Buddha did not completely prohibit the existence of upper-floor rooms, but set forth certain conditions. The text stipulates that houses with an upper story must follow particular standards: they must not be too high, must not be too luxurious, and must serve the purpose of practice rather than the satisfaction of craving or conceit. These regulations reflect the principle of balance in Theravāda Buddhism: avoiding the extreme of excessive asceticism while also not falling into heedlessness or craving.
This text is also connected with distinctions concerning ownership of property in the Sangha and the management of common property.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.