Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Sk 22Lowered Eyes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Okkhittacakkhu
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The Okkhittacakkhu Sutta (Lowered Eyes)
Background
This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravāda tradition, reflecting an important aspect of the training of body and mind within the concentrated communal life of the monastic Saṅgha. The title "Okkhittacakkhu" — translated as "Lowered Eyes" or "Downcast Eyes" — highlights a specific point of focus within the discipline of Buddhist Vinaya.
The Six Principles of Harmony form the foundation of collective practice, and the restraint of the sense faculties (indriyasaṃvara) is regarded as a prerequisite condition for the mind to settle and for wisdom to develop. This sutta arises from a practical context within the monastic community, where members need to be guided in proper conduct — particularly in relations between monastics of different genders, or in situations where the mind's concentration is easily scattered.
In the Pāli Canon, the regulations concerning "lowering the eyes" are not merely a physical action; they are a symbol of withdrawal, humility, and the restraint of desire through the eye — one of the principal gateways through which sensual impulses enter.
Main Content
According to the Theravāda tradition, this sutta offers guidance on the management of visual perception (cakkhu) — specifically the act of casting the eyes downward. This is not a harsh or meaningless regulation, but rather a method of practice undertaken with clear intention.
When a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī lowers the eyes, this expresses a focusing on what lies immediately before one — a safe distance from unnecessary stimulation. The eye is the gateway of visible forms (rūpāyatana), and when unguarded, the eye draws the mind after images that readily give rise to desire and ignorance.
This sutta, within the context of the Vinaya Pitaka, emphasizes that monastics living and practicing within large communities are required to observe these standards of conduct.
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