Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Sk 57Na pāṇau hanum niṣatsyāma
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na pāṇau hanum niṣatsyāma
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Exposition of the Na Pāṇau Hanum Niṣatsyāma Sutta
Background
The Na Pāṇau Hanum Niṣatsyāma Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, where the rules of training and discipline of the Buddhist Sangha are preserved. The title of this sutta, translated as "We should not sit with hands and feet stretched out," reflects one of the basic rules of conduct intended to establish decorum and discipline within the monastic community.
The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled on the basis of the direct teachings of the Buddha Gotama. The rules (Pātimokkha) were taught to help bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs practice the Buddhist path in accordance with the Dharma. Each rule arose from specific events in the early history of the Sangha and was established by the Buddha in order to prevent unworthy actions and train the mind in compassion.
Main Content
The rule "Na pāṇau hanum niṣatsyāma" instructs bhikkhus not to sit with hands and feet stretched out in a casual or careless way. This is a regulation concerning courteous conduct while sitting, especially in solemn contexts such as listening to the Dharma, attending Sangha meetings, or receiving fellow practitioners and guests at a monastery.
Sitting with the hands and feet stretched out is regarded as lacking in dignity, disrespectful toward the space and toward those nearby. It reflects a subjective, lax state of mind, inattentive to one's own ethical training. Instead, bhikkhus are asked to sit in a proper seated posture (pālikā) or cross-legged, a posture expressing concentration, respect, and control of the body.
This rule is not merely an external regulation; it is connected with training the mind through restraint of bodily action. In the Theravāda tradition, the connection among body (kāya), speech (vacī), and mind (mano) is the foundation of the training. When one can restrain the act of sitting, one also restrains the tendencies of ignorance and greed hidden in the body.
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