Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 60Na pāde pādam niṣatsyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na pāde pādam niṣatsyāma
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EXPLANATION OF THE SUTTA: Na pāde pādam niṣatsyāma
Background
The “Na pāde pādam niṣatsyāma” Sutta (“Not stepping upon a step”) appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of traditional Pāli Theravāda Buddhism, the Vinaya section that sets out prohibitions concerning action. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of rules of practice issued by the Buddha directly or through specific stories in the life of the Sangha. These regulations are not methods imposed arbitrarily, but arise from actual situations encountered by the Buddha’s disciples, requiring clear teaching on ethics and respect.
The background of this discourse concerns the conduct of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs within the Buddhist community. The rules in the Vinaya Piṭaka were established to protect the purity of the Sangha, maintain internal discipline, and nurture the spiritual life of each individual monastic.
Main Content
The rule “Not stepping upon a step” (Na pāde pādam niṣatsyāma) is understood as prohibiting deliberate actions that harm or insult others, especially in contexts involving imagined or self-created situations that may disturb the Sangha. More specifically, this discourse instructs that bhikkhus should not deliberately place their foot where another is stepping, or obstruct others by blocking their way, whether in the literal or figurative sense.
The deeper meaning of this rule does not stop at physical action, but also relates to mental attitude. The “step” here symbolizes the way of life, the path of practice that each person is following. One should not deliberately obstruct, insult, or divert another’s progress on the path in search of liberation.
This rule reflects the interactive nature of the Sangha, where harmony and mutual respect are the foundation. It is also closely related to the principle of “non-harming” (ahiṁsā), a core virtue in Buddhism, requiring us not to leave shadows of agitation, rivalry, or unskillfulness in our relationships with others.
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