Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 77Disposing Feces

The Tirokuṭṭuccārachaḍḍana Sutta: Disposal of Waste

Background

This sutta belongs to the Pāli Canon, specifically the Vinaya Piṭaka, the part of Theravāda Buddhism concerned with regulating the precepts of monks and nuns. The sutta on “disposing of waste” (Tirokuṭṭuccārachaḍḍana) appears among the detailed regulations on the daily life of the Sangha, reflecting the attention of the Buddha and his disciples to practical matters that seem ordinary but are the foundation of cleanliness and internal discipline.

The background for the arising of this sutta is connected with disciplinary violations or undesirable incidents that occurred in the early Sangha. When a problem arose concerning unsuitable hygienic habits, the Buddha issued clear rules to protect both the physical environment and mutual respect among members of the monastic community.

Main Content

The Tirokuṭṭuccārachaḍḍana Sutta concerns the handling of waste and impurities, requiring bhikkhus to remove waste properly, without affecting the shared hygiene of the monastery or causing disturbance to others. This sutta belongs to the group of Pācittiya rules, that is, rules concerning faults that require confession and remedy, not more serious offenses such as Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa.

Specifically, this rule forbids bhikkhus from throwing waste carelessly, for example in common spaces, near shared dwellings, or in places where it may pollute others. Instead, bhikkhus must choose suitable locations, usually places already designated, places with drainage, or locations distant from the main activities of the monastic community.

The sutta also mentions each individual’s responsibility to maintain personal and public hygiene, clearly expressing the spirit of “not causing disturbance” (abyāpajja) that the Buddha emphasized in his teachings.