Lzh Mu Bu Pm Sk 24Sit Not Smelling

EXPLANATION OF THE SUTTA “ONE SHOULD NOT SMELL FRAGRANCE”

Context

This sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the section regulating the discipline of monks and nuns in early Buddhism. The Vinaya Piṭaka records improper actions of disciples, together with the Buddha’s teachings intended to correct them and uphold purity in the Sangha.

The sutta “One Should Not Smell Fragrance” (Sit not smelling) reflects an important ethic in early monastic life: the abandonment of sensual pleasures. The background of this sutta concerns violations of the standards by monks and nuns when they used perfumes or fragrances in a way inconsistent with the humble spirit of practice.

Main Content

The sutta states that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs should not engage in the act of “smelling fragrance” (ghraṇa) with delight or greed. This instruction does not forbid all experience of smell, but warns against a greedy attitude and desire for sweet fragrances, which is regarded as an expression of sensual desire (kāma).

In the setting of ancient Theravāda practice, the senses were considered potential storms of greed. Pleasant smell is one of the six entrances of consciousness (indriya), easily giving rise to wandering thoughts and impure intention, thereby leading to a breach of concentration (samādhi).

This regulation may be understood to mean that practitioners should avoid seeking, using, or focusing on perfumes and artificial fragrances. Instead, they are encouraged to keep sensations in a state of equanimity, without agitation and without pursuit. This is part of the principle of modest equipment in the Vinaya Piṭaka.

Practical Meaning

The deeper meaning of the sutta does not lie in forbidding a single physical act, but in a philosophy of wise living. Theravāda Buddhism teaches that all the senses are entrances to suffering. Practitioners need to develop carefulness (appamāda) in the way they come into contact with the sensory world.