Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 9Na dundumaṁ
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na dundumaṁ
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Explanation of the Na Dundumaṁ Sutta
Background
The Na Dundumaṁ Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, as part of the Vibhaṅga, the analysis of the discipline, where the rules of conduct that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe are recorded in detail. The title “Na dundumaṁ” means “not to slap” or “not to strike,” indicating that this is a prohibition concerning acts of striking or clapping in the context of communal monastic life.
The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to maintain discipline in the Sangha after the Buddha’s nirvana. These rules are not unreasonable criticisms, but practical instructions intended to protect the gradual accumulation of the teaching and preserve the purity of the monastery, as well as to respect the quiet necessary for practice.
Main Content
The Na Dundumaṁ Sutta concerns actions that a bhikkhu should not perform, especially actions that create unnecessary disturbance in the monastic community. Here, “slapping” or “striking” is not merely noise, but also signifies a mental attitude lacking sincerity, respect, or causing disruption in the environment of study and practice.
According to the spirit of the Theravāda Vinaya Pitaka, such actions are regarded as violations because they reflect or create an unalert and unreflective state of mind. A bhikkhu should always be aware of his actions, from the smallest gesture to the greatest decision. Discipline is not meant to restrict freedom, but to train awareness (sati) and self-control (saṃyama).
The rules in the Vibhaṅga do not merely list what is forbidden, but also explain the conditions of application, the degree of offense, and exceptional cases. This shows that Theravāda Buddhism is a balanced tradition, not authoritarian but appropriate to circumstances.
Practical Meaning
The deeper spirit of the Na Dundumaṁ Sutta is the practice of the “four powers of moral dread” (caturmahābhaya): fear concerning action, speech, thought, and whatever is wrong.
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