Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 89Lying Down
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sayana
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Explanation of the Sayana Sutta (Lying Down)
Background
The Sayana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, where the rules of practice for the Sangha are recorded in detail. This text appears in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the analysis of the rules for female bhikkhus, the section of discipline devoted to bhikkhunīs practicing according to the Buddha’s Dharma.
Sayana, or “lying down,” is a common topic in the Vinaya Pitaka, related to the posture, conduct, and attitude of practice among disciples. The matter of sleeping or lying at length in the monastic community has definite effects on the mood of practice, discipline, and respect within the Sangha. Therefore, the Buddha gave specific instructions on how to lie down in a manner appropriate to the nature of monastic practice.
Main Content
The Sayana Sutta prescribes that bhikkhus should not lie down too freely or without restraint. Lying down must follow standards of discipline and purity. Specifically, the posture of lying down should be simple, not out of place, and appropriate to the training ground of a practitioner.
This discipline forbids actions such as lying stretched out on luxurious high beds, or adopting an appearance overly concerned with bodily comfort. Instead, the Buddha advised bhikkhus to lie in the “lion’s posture” (sīhasayana), that is, lying on the left side, the right foot placed upon the left, wakeful and ready to rise. This posture symbolizes vigilance, purposefulness, and not becoming intoxicated with sleep.
The text also emphasizes that the time for rest must be reasonable, neither too long nor too short. The purpose of lying down is to restore strength for further practice, not to seek pleasure or escape the responsibilities of practice.
Practical Meaning
The Sayana Sutta teaches us that the careful mind (appamāda) must permeate every aspect of monastic life, including activities that seem ordinary, such as lying down to sleep. Lying down is not a time for the mind to wander freely, but part of the whole of practice.
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