Upp Sk 28Receiving Even Level
Pāli / Sanskrit:Samatittika
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THE SUTTA ON RECEIVING AT AN EVEN LEVEL
(Samatittika — Upp Sk 28)
Background
The Receiving at an Even Level Sutta (Samatittika) is an important part of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of training rules established by the Buddha Śākyamuni to protect harmony within the monastic community (Saṅgha) and support practitioners on the journey to liberation.
This text appears in the Upasampadā Sutta section, a specialized part concerning the process of ordination, the ceremony of entry into the community of those gone forth. The content focuses on principles of fairness and non-discrimination when receiving candidates into the monastic community. This is not a discourse expounding the Dharma, but a practical guide to administrative ethics in the community of practice.
The title "Samatittika" (Samat + ittika) means "receiving at an even level," indicating that all those considered for entry into the community must be treated fairly, without favor or discrimination based on birth, wealth, or external factors.
Main Content
This sutta prescribes that in the process of considering entry into the community, members of the monastic community must apply the same standards to all candidates. There is no priority for the wealthy, no special favor for those connected to the preceptor (Upajjhāya) or teachers (Ācariya), and no discrimination based on ethnicity or worldly social standing.
This principle of "even level" reflects one of the core values of Theravāda Buddhism: spiritual equality. Every individual, whether slave, farmer, or prince, when entering the monastic community, is considered according to the same set of criteria: the capacity for practice, a clear mind, and commitment to the Dharma.
This means that the questions asked, the standards applied, and the final decisions must not be affected by any factor of bias.
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