Upp Sk 24Well-Restrained (2nd)

The Dutiyasusaṁvuta Sutta (The Second Being Well-Restrained)

Background

Dutiyasusaṁvuta belongs to the Upasampadā Sutta section of the Vinaya Piṭaka, a sacred part of the Pāli Canon that records training rules and guidance for the Sangha. This sutta is presented in the context of the Buddha instructing new bhikkhus on how to practice and train in discipline.

In the Theravāda tradition, Vinaya is regarded as the firm foundation of the Dharma. It is not merely prohibitions or external constraints, but wise guidance intended to help practitioners remove greed, hatred, and delusion, the three root poisons of suffering.

The title "Dutiyasusaṁvuta" means "The Second Being Well-Restrained" or "Well-Restrained (2nd)." The word "susaṁvuta" includes the meaning of being well restrained, fully covered by discipline. This is a repetition or deepening of teachings on self-restraint.

Main Content

This sutta continues to instruct bhikkhus on five aspects of disciplinary restraint (pañca-saṁvara), or ways of protecting virtue that a bhikkhu should develop. These aspects include:

First, restraint of the senses (indriya-saṁvara), that is, guarding the faculties (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind) so that they are not dominated by desire. When seeing a beautiful image, the practitioner does not let the eye cling; when hearing sound, the ear does not become infatuated.

Second, restraint in eating and drinking (bhojana-saṁvara), eating in a measured and wise way, not allowing food to become a path of greed.

Third, cultivation of wakefulness (jāgaraṇa-saṁvara), maintaining the spirit of alertness and not lapsing into habits of laziness.

Fourth, guarding the discipline (sīla-saṁvara), observing what should and should not be done, protecting the faith of others toward the Sangha.

Fifth, living apart from purposeless socializing and binding activities (saṅga-saṁvara).