Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 1Nātyutkṛṣtaṁ nivāsayiṣyāma

Explanation of the Sutra Nātyutkṛṣtaṁ Nivāsayiṣyāma

Background

This text comes from the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, the internal code of the Buddhist Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a set of rules for conduct, but detailed guidance helping monks and nuns orient their practice on the path to liberation. Vinaya texts such as “Nātyutkṛṣtaṁ nivāsayiṣyāma” appear in concrete circumstances when the Buddha and his disciples were living according to the discipline.

This Pāli-Sanskrit title may be rendered roughly as “We shall allow residence in places not too remote” or “We shall dwell in lodgings that do not exceed a reasonable measure.” This is practical guidance on choosing dwellings for monastics, an important aspect of managing communal Sangha life.

Main Content

This text concerns an important Vinaya principle of reasonableness in the activities of the Sangha. “Nātyutkṛṣtaṁ” (nāti + utkṛṣṭa) means “not too high,” “not too isolated,” or “not excessive,” while “nivāsayiṣyāma” means “we shall cause to dwell” or “we shall establish.” Taken together, the text instructs that monastics should reside in places that are not too remote or not beyond reasonable limits.

This principle reflects the characteristic balance of Theravada Buddha-Dharma. The Buddha never encouraged extreme actions. Rather than requiring his disciples to live in places utterly wild or exceedingly harsh, the Buddha-Dharma suggests living conditions suitable for the mind to focus on practice and direction.

Specifically, choosing a dwelling that is not too remote helps monastics avoid excessive hardship in daily life, such as illness or difficulty, while also avoiding the temptations of excessive comfort. This is the middle way (majjhimā paṭipadā) that Theravada Buddhism always emphasizes.