Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Sk 39Na vikṣiptikākṛtā pravekṣyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na vikṣiptikākṛtā pravekṣyāma
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Explanation of the Na Vikṣiptikākṛtā Pravekṣyāma Sutra
Background
The Na Vikṣiptikākṛtā Pravekṣyāma Sutra (We shall not enter with a scattered mind) is an important part of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddha Dharma tradition. This sutra is recorded in different Vinaya collections of Theravāda schools, with corresponding content in East Asian Sanskrit versions.
The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules of practice and regulations for managing the monastic community, established by the Buddha on the basis of specific circumstances that arose in the Sangha. These rules are not arbitrary commands, but arise from deep understanding of the nature of mind, ethical development, and harmony in the community of practice. This sutra is especially related to mental concentration (samādhi) and the mental state required for entering higher stages of practice.
The historical context for this sutra concerns situations in which monks failed to maintain wakefulness, allowing the mind to fall into a scattered state (vikkhitta-citta), obstructing the process of practice and the methods of concentration training (samādhi-sikkhā).
Main Content
This sutra establishes a basic principle: the mind must not enter higher stages of practice while in a scattered state (vikṣiptikākṛtā). This is a note concerning the psychological prerequisites for any method of practice.
A scattered mind is understood as a mind unable to focus on one object, constantly wandering among many ideas, feelings, and images. This state results from the mind being governed by the five hindrances (nīvaraṇa): sensual desire (kāmachanda), ill will (vyāpāda), sloth and torpor (thīnamiddha), restlessness and remorse (uddhacca-kukkucca), and doubt (vicikicchā).
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