Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Sk 6Na hastiśuṇḍaṁ
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na hastiśuṇḍaṁ
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The Na Hastiśuṇḍaṁ Scripture — An Exposition from the Pāli Canon
Background
The Na Hastiśuṇḍaṁ scripture (No elephant’s trunk) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the sacred collection regulating the rules of practice for monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the ethical and disciplinary foundation in the Theravāda tradition, recording the Buddha’s teachings on how to live purely and harmoniously within the religious community.
The title has deep symbolic meaning. "Elephant’s trunk" (hastiśuṇḍa) here is not only the bodily organ of an elephant, but also an image of swagger, arrogance, or an unprecedented kind of stubborn clinging. This scripture was brought forth to address violations caused by the obstinacy and self-importance of members of the Sangha who were unwilling to listen to advice or correct themselves.
Main Content
The specific content of this scripture concerns the Buddha’s establishment of regulations for dealing with monks or nuns who are stubborn and refuse to acknowledge faults even when they are pointed out. Such people are said to lack an "elephant’s trunk" for application, meaning that they lack flexibility and suppleness of mind or do not wish to cultivate the necessary humane qualities.
The scripture states clearly the forms of admonition (kaccānakamma, phasa kamma) and appropriate methods of reconciliation (sammuti) within the Sangha. The focus is on maintaining discipline not out of fear or punishment, but out of kindness and the shared aim of awakening. Through these regulations, the Buddha makes clear that spiritual rigidity is one of the greatest obstacles to the path, and that the monastic community needs skillful means for educating and correcting.
Practical Meaning
For modern practitioners, this scripture reminds us that the problem of having "no elephant’s trunk," that is, constriction and stubbornness in practice, is an obstacle to cultivation. The spiritual mind needs to be supple like an elephant’s trunk, able to bend, adapt to circumstances, be willing to learn, and correct mistakes.
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