Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 69Slurping

Explanation of the Surusurukāraka Sutta (The Sutta on Slurping Sounds)

Background

The Surusurukāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga section, where the training rules for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs are gathered. This sutta is recorded in the Theravāda tradition, when the Buddha and his disciples were still living in the regions of ancient India.

The originating context of this sutta concerns everyday details in Buddhist monasteries. Theravāda Buddhist places of practice paid close attention to the conduct of discipline (śīla), from the smallest matters such as the way of drinking water and eating rice to greater actions. Each rule was established not to create inconvenience, but to nourish the mind of practice, preserve purity, and practice concentration and wisdom.

The Surusurukāraka Sutta specifically deals with the issue arising from noises made when bhikkhus drank water or rice gruel. This seems a small matter, but in fact reflects the profound philosophy of the Buddhist Vinaya Piṭaka: all actions of a practitioner affect consciousness and create cumulative effects.

Main Content

This sutta records a specific situation: some bhikkhus made a “surusuru” sound, a slurping or sucking sound, when drinking water or rice gruel. This noise could be considered undignified, not fitting the image of one who has gone forth and committed himself to the Buddhist path.

After learning of the situation, the Buddha taught the bhikkhus that making such loud noises was inappropriate. This belongs to the sphere of dhamma-vinaya, Dharma and discipline, the aesthetic rules of conduct. The purpose was not criticism or punishment, but to help bhikkhus understand that their practice should accord with the spirit of training.

The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes that unnecessary noise not only disturbs the minds of other practitioners, but also disturbs the mind of the practitioner himself. It breaks concentration and composure, two essential factors on the Buddhist path.