Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Np 15A Sitting-Blanket

EXPOSITION OF THE NI-SĪ-DAN-A-SAN-THA-TA DISCOURSE (Sitting Mat)

Context

The Nisīdanasanthata discourse is a part of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically belonging to the Bhikkhuṇī Vibhaṅga, the Vinaya section for bhikkhunīs, female monastics. This Vinaya section records in detail the rules of daily life, everyday equipment, and prohibitions related to the living and practice environment of female practitioners in the Sangha.

The sitting mat (nisīdana) is an essential tool for meditation practice. It is not only a material object, but also a symbol of stability, dignity, and concentration in practice. The Nisīdanasanthata discourse deals with matters related to the use, making, repair, and sharing of this mat among bhikkhunīs in the Sangha.

The historical context shows that the Buddha allowed practitioners to use necessary equipment to support practice, but with clear rules intended to avoid greed, disorder, and mental states not in keeping with the path of practice.

Main Content

The discourse handles specific situations concerning the sitting mat: how many mats a bhikkhunī may possess, what constitutes proper use, and what actions are considered offenses. The rules include details such as how to clean the mat, how to preserve it, and especially when it should be shared or lent to other bhikkhunīs.

This rule reflects the core principle of Vinaya: the Patimokkha, the ethical rules for renunciant practitioners. These are not overly harsh restrictions, but standards that help the Sangha protect harmony, avoid disputes over property, and maintain purity in the community of practice.

The rules also show that basic items must be shared fairly, in keeping with the spirit of the Sangha, where no one privately owns unnecessary things. This expresses the renunciation of ambition for property and of attachment.