Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 38Nātyastikākṛtā niṣatsyāma

Explanation of the Nātyastikākṛtā niṣatsyāma Sutta

Context

The Nātyastikākṛtā niṣatsyāma Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, the Pāli Canon. It is part of the detailed Vinaya system, the rules and principles regulating the life of the monastic community under the Buddha Śākyamuni. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the oldest of the three baskets, Sutta, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma, recording the Buddha’s direct teachings on discipline, ethics, and harmonious living in a religious community.

The title of this sutta contains the Pāli word "nātya" (performance, dance) and "stikākṛtā" (made, established), indicating regulations related to performances or activities that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs need to observe. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, these regulations are not unreasonable prohibitions, but guidelines that help monks and nuns protect purity, mental focus, and the honor of the Sangha.

Main Content

The Nātyastikākṛtā niṣatsyāma Sutta is related to behaviors or activities unsuitable to the nature of monastic practice. Specifically, the sutta stipulates that bhikkhus should not participate in activities such as artistic performances, dancing, singing, or other forms of public entertainment that could exploit or misuse the community’s respect.

This regulation arises from a basic principle: a bhikkhu has gone forth to pursue liberation from the cycle of rebirth, directing the mind toward meditation and the study of the Dharma. Such activities can create attachments, divert the mind, and disturb the spirit of practice. Moreover, these activities risk turning the Sangha into a tool for seeking fame, money, or favor from laypeople, which is contrary to the intention of one gone forth.

The Vinaya Piṭaka does not merely list prohibitions, but also clearly explains the inner and social consequences of violation.