Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 102Not Nursing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Naupaṭṭhāpana
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THE SUTTA ON NOT NURSING (NAUPAṬṬHĀPANA)
Background
The Naupaṭṭhāpana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially the Pātimokkha Saṃvara, the ethical standard for monks. According to the Theravāda tradition, this rule was established by the Buddha to maintain order in the Sangha, protecting purity and harmony among renunciants.
The title “Not Nursing” (Naupaṭṭhāpana) refers to failing to perform duties of care and service connected with other monastics or the practicing community. It is one of the Pācittiya rules in the Pātimokkha, offenses requiring acknowledgment and confession in order to be purified.
The historical background shows that monks in the early Buddhist community had to live in a spirit of mutual support and assistance. Caring for one another was not merely a task, but an expression of compassion (mettā) and the practice of pure conduct (śīla).
Main Content
The Naupaṭṭhāpana Sutta prescribes that a monk must not be negligent or refuse to care for fellow practitioners, especially those who are ill or in need of assistance. If a monk is capable but deliberately fails to perform acts of service or care, such as supporting the sick, preparing food, or helping the weak, then he violates this rule.
The prohibition is not limited to refusing help; it also includes a lack of readiness or initiative in communal duties. This is why the rule is called “Not Nursing”: it emphasizes initiative, willingness, and wholeheartedness in supporting fellow practitioners.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, monks are encouraged to develop upaṭṭhāna, attentiveness and careful preparation, in order to respond to the needs of the community. Violation of this is regarded as conduct falling short of the respect and compassion esteemed in ancient Buddhism.
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