Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Sk 72Poking Tongue
Pāli / Sanskrit:Jivhānicchāraka
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Exposition of the Jivhānicchāraka Sutta (Poking Tongue)
Background
The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the discipline for bhikkhunīs. This work is presented in the context of the Buddha establishing and completing the Vinaya Piṭaka for the community of nuns during the early development of the Sangha.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of formal rules, but an expression of the wisdom (paññā) and compassion (karuṇā) of the Tathagata. Every rule is established for a specific reason, usually arising from some event in the monastic community. The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta reflects the concern of early Buddhism with bodily conduct, discipline, and appropriate expressions in the life of training.
Main Content
The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta concerns the behavior of "sticking out the tongue" (jivhā nicchāraka), a gesture regarded as unsuitable to the code of conduct of a bhikkhunī in training. Specifically, suddenly protruding the tongue, especially before men or in public situations, is seen as a humorous gesture, playful in character, or even as having an intention unsuitable to the status of one who practices the holy life.
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is examined as an improper action (anucchavika) that a nun should avoid. The Buddha set forth specific guidance that bhikkhunīs should guard body and speech, focusing on contemplation of the nature of the body (kāyānupassanā) and restraint of the senses (indriya saṃvara).
This sutta emphasizes that even small actions such as sticking out the tongue, if they arise from carelessness or unconsciousness, can become obstacles in practice. The early Vinaya Piṭaka does not judge arbitrarily, but guides practitioners to understand clearly the consequences of every action of body, speech, and mind.
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