Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 151Going to the Instruction
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ovādūpasaṅkamana
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The Sutra on Going to Seek Instruction (Ovādūpasaṅkamana)
Background
This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, in the body of training rules for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. “Ovādūpasaṅkamana” means “going to seek instruction,” reflecting a fundamental act in early Buddhism: a monastic actively seeks guidance from elders or those of high virtue.
The Vinaya Piṭaka records the rules of communal life in the Sangha established by the Buddha or by senior disciples. This text is not a direct doctrinal discourse, but a rule concerning conduct and mental attitude when a female trainee or young monastic approaches a teacher to receive instruction.
Main Content
In the Theravāda tradition, “going to seek instruction” is not accidental or passive. It is an intentional act, reflecting respect, humility, and the wholesome intention of the learner. The text prescribes that monastics, especially those newly gone forth, should actively seek guidance from senior monks, those with deep experience in the Dharma and Vinaya.
The act of “ovādūpasaṅkamana” includes a respectful attitude: going at the proper time, with a pure intention, ready to listen and retain the instruction. This is not a merely formal requirement, but an expression of understanding that the Buddha-Dharma is transmitted through the direct relationship between teacher and student. The learner needs not only to hear theory, but to be guided in applying the Dharma to the concrete life of practice.
The rule also stipulates that teachers have a responsibility not to refuse when practitioners come seeking guidance. This is a reciprocal principle: the learner must have the wholesome intention to seek, and the teacher must have compassion and readiness to share.
Practical Meaning
In the context of modern practice, this text reminds us of the importance of seeking guidance from those with experience in practice.
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