Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 89Sitting Mats

The Discourse on the Sitting Mat (Nisīdana)

Background

The Nisīdana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition, the Pāli Canon, and is found in the Pātimokkha, the code of precepts. It is a detailed disciplinary rule concerning the property and daily life of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs in the Buddhist Sangha community.

This discourse illuminates a practical aspect of the Vinaya: the management of everyday requisites. The sitting mat (nisīdana) is an essential item in the monastery, used for sitting in meditation or attending Dharma talks. The provisions related to the sitting mat are not trivial regulations, but reflect profound principles of restraint, responsible use of property, and respect for the standards of the community of practice.

In the historical context, the early bhikkhus lived according to the principle of humility, possessing only the minimum necessary items. The Vinaya clearly defined each kind of permitted article, including robes, food, and monastic utensils. The Nisīdana Sutta concerns violations or points requiring attention in the use, care, or giving away of this mat.

Main Content

According to the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, the Nisīdana Sutta clearly regulates aspects of managing the sitting mat in the Sangha community. This mat is not a decorative object but has a practical purpose: keeping clean while sitting in meditation, protecting the body from the dampness of the monastery floor, and maintaining order where the community gathers.

The discourse states that a bhikkhu is permitted to possess a sitting mat, but must observe certain conditions. If the mat is damaged, it may be repaired, but it must not be made too long, too thick, or have unnecessary decorations added. Violations related to the sitting mat are classified into different offenses according to degree, from minor violations requiring confession (Dukkata) to more serious cases.

The discourse also regulates the giving, lending, or transferring of the sitting mat.