Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Sk 71Na gṛṣmakāraka
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na gṛṣmakāraka
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Na gṛṣmakāraka Sutta (The Summer Worker)
Background
The Na gṛṣmakāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It is part of the Pātimokkha regulations related to the actions and attitudes of those who have gone forth within the Sangha.
According to the historical context, this sutta was established to address a practical issue that arose in the Buddhist community. Specifically, certain bhikkhus or laypeople took part in summer labor (gṛṣmakāraka), heavy tasks such as plowing, building, or other material work that, according to the spirit of the Buddha Dharma, monastics should not directly undertake, or should undertake only under certain restrictions.
The Vinaya Piṭaka records specific cases from the life of the Buddha and his disciples, from which appropriate regulations were drawn out in keeping with the spirit of practice, balancing the material basis for living with diligence in Dharma practice.
Main Content
The specific content of this sutta has not been fully translated, but based on the Vinaya context, it refers to regulations related to those who perform summer labor. Usually, suttas of this kind explain that:
Bhikkhus must not urge or require others to perform heavy labor, labor for the sake of fame and gain, or actions that harm soil and living plants, such as cutting trees or burning fields. This violates the principle of non-harming (ahiṃsā).
On the other hand, the sutta also clearly prescribes that if a bhikkhu himself performs such work in order to seek direct violent action, or commands others to do it for the sake of fame, this is conduct that breaches the precepts. However, if the work is necessary for basic living or for caring for the Sangha, and is done with a proper state of mind, the difference is to be considered.
The sutta emphasizes the distinction between agency, actively causing harm, and accident, necessary action without the intention to harm.
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