Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Np 15A Sitting-Blanket
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nisīdanasanthata
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An Interpretation of the Nisīdanasanthata Sutta (The Meditation Mat)
Background
The Nisīdanasanthata Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, in the Bhikkhu Pātimokkha, the collection of basic rules of practice for monks. This sutta records a specific situation related to the use of a meditation mat (nisīdana, also called a mat or sitting cloth) in the monastic community during the Buddha’s lifetime.
The background for the arising of this sutta came from practical need. Monks needed suitable implements for the practice of meditation, including a mat to separate the body from the ground, both for hygiene and for better conditions for meditation. However, as the Sangha community developed, disputes or uncertainties arose concerning the use, preservation, or sharing of these requisites. The Buddha gave specific guidance to regulate conduct, helping the community practice harmoniously and without creating envy or argument.
Main Content
The Nisīdanasanthata Sutta thoroughly sets forth the principle regarding the use and management of meditation mats in the Sangha community. The specific content of this sutta has not yet been fully translated in available materials, but according to the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, it clearly concerns rules for how monks should treat requisites of practice, especially how to preserve them, use them fairly, and not damage or waste the shared tools of the Sangha.
In the Theravāda tradition, rules regarding requisites of practice are not merely external matters, but reflect the spirit of mindfulness (sati) and self-control (dama). The Buddha taught that a monk must value the requisites that are provided, use them wisely, and never misuse or waste them. The meditation mat, though a simple object, carries profound meaning: it is the place where a monastic sits to train the mind, to attain the highest states of meditation and insight.
Practical Meaning
The Nisīdanasanthata Sutta teaches us a profound lesson about sati, mindfulness.
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