Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 163Medical Treament Below the Navel
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pasākhejāta
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Pasākhejāta Discourse: Medical Treatment Below the Navel
Background
The Pasākhejāta discourse (Pali: ปสาขเจตะ) belongs to the Pāti Mokshalā in the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, where the rules regulating the life of bhikkhus are recorded. This code was compiled after the Buddha Gotama, out of compassion for bhikkhus suffering from illness or injury, permitted monastics to receive medical treatment in order to protect their health and thereby focus better on the Dharma.
This discourse specifically deals with medical matters related to the area of the body below the navel (pasākhejāta). In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, physiological details are mentioned not to distract from the spiritual purpose, but to ensure that monastics receive appropriate medical care while preserving propriety and cleanliness in the Sangha community.
Main Content
The Pasākhejāta discourse prescribes the medical methods permitted for areas of the body below the navel, including treatments, masala oils, washes, and other medical instruments that a bhikkhu suffering from illness or injury may use.
The Buddha Gotama emphasized that these methods are to be applied only when truly necessary, for curing illness or preventing a condition from worsening. However, any treatment must observe principles of delicacy and cleanliness. Actions motivated by sensual desire or impure self-indulgence are considered violations of the rule, because they lead to distraction from practice.
The discourse also clearly distinguishes between legitimate medical treatment and actions contrary to the precepts. For example, the use of lubricants or oils to treat illness is permitted, but if the act is performed with a mind of sensual desire, then it violates the rule.
Practical Meaning
The Pasākhejāta discourse teaches us an important lesson: bodily health is a necessary foundation for practicing the Buddha-Dharma, but it is not the final goal.
🌏 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.