Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 89Sitting Mats

Nisīdana Sutta (Sitting Mat) — Explanation of the Vinaya Piṭaka

Background

The Nisīdana Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pārājika section or the regulations concerning Sangha conduct. The content relates to the daily-use requisites of bhikkhus, especially mats and cushions for sitting during practice and communal activities.

The background for this discourse is connected with the early period when the Buddhist Sangha community was being formed. At that time, the Buddha and his disciples lived with minimal possessions and shared common resources. Matters relating to ownership, use, and care of communal property became elements that needed to be clearly regulated in order to maintain harmony and discipline within the Sangha. The Nisīdana Sutta is one such rule, intended to remedy violations or disputes concerning sitting mats.

The mats (nisīdana) are not ordinary objects. They are communal property of the Sangha, used for sitting in meditation, studying the Dharma, or communal events. Therefore, the way these mats are used, preserved, and shared directly reflects the spirit of practice of a bhikkhu.

Main Content

The Nisīdana Sutta regulates offenses related to the use and maintenance of the Sangha’s sitting mats. According to the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, bhikkhus are prohibited from appropriating another’s mat without permission or allowing a mat to be damaged through carelessness. Acts such as deliberately soiling, tearing, or allowing insects to destroy communal mats are all regarded as violations of the Dhamma-Vinaya.

In addition, this discourse also mentions specific cases: when the use of a mat is considered legitimate, when it exceeds the proper boundary, and how disputes over the right of use should be handled. The important point is that the Vinaya Piṭaka does not merely state offenses, but also provides methods of remedy, requiring the offender to compensate for, clean, or repair the property that has been damaged.