Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 59Na pāde pādam pravekṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na pāde pādam pravekṣyāma
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Explanation of the Na Pāde Pādam Pravekṣyāma Sutta
Background
The Na Pāde Pādam Pravekṣyāma Sutta (“We will not step foot upon foot”) is a disciplinary passage in the Theravāda tradition, belonging to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the division on monastic discipline for the Sangha. These are specific instructions intended to maintain respect and diligence in the community of monks and nuns.
The Vinaya Piṭaka of Theravāda Buddhism is not merely a set of dry prohibitions, but a body of principles that helps practitioners build noble character and protect harmony in the Sangha. The rules in the Vinaya Piṭaka reflect the subtlety and mindfulness of the Buddha in guiding human beings away from unconscious attachments.
This discourse is recorded in ancient canonical texts and reflects a basic principle: distance and respect for seniority within the monastic community. It concerns rules related to basic courteous actions among members of the Sangha.
Main Content
The title means that we will not let one person’s foot rest upon another person’s foot in Sangha activities, or that one should not disregard the position and presence of fellow practitioners. This may be understood on two levels: the physical level, related to irreverence and disrespect, and the symbolic level, related to not encroaching upon the rights and spiritual path of others.
According to the thought of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, each practitioner has a defined position in the community. A younger practitioner or one with less capacity in practicing the Dharma must show respect toward those of greater capacity or longer standing in practice. This is not superstition or authoritarianism, but the foundation for the organization and harmony of the Sangha.
The discourse further instructs that during communal gatherings (Sangiti), shared activities, or when listening to Dharma teachings, each person must respect the space and position of others. This is an expression of sīla (discipline) and ajjava (honesty, straightforwardness).
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