Upp Sk 70On Plants

The Hariteuccāra Sutta (Rule Concerning Plants)

Background

Hariteuccāra, translated as “Rule Concerning Plants,” is a text belonging to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This sutta is found in the Uppannakhandhaka, the Chapter on Newly Arisen Matters, a section of the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga, where the Buddha and his disciples discuss detailed rules of conduct for the monastic community.

The historical background of the sutta concerns bhikkhus violating principles of respect for life. Seeing actions that were not in accordance with the spirit of compassion (mettā), the Buddha set forth specific rules to guide his disciples to practice in accordance with the Dharma. This sutta reflects the relationship between plant life and Buddhist ethics, a relatively profound theme in the Vinaya.

Main Content

Hariteuccāra deals with the question of whether killing or harming plants is considered a violation of the spirit of a bhikkhu’s duty. Unlike matters concerning the killing of animals, which have clear rules, this sutta must consider the unique nature of plants: they do not have nervous systems and do not possess consciousness in the same sense as animals.

According to the content of this sutta, the Buddha distinguished among types of plants based on purpose and cause. Although the sutta does not completely prohibit the use of plants, since bhikkhus need to eat vegetables and drink liquids from plants, the principle is to avoid actions done heedlessly or out of greed. Cutting down trees unnecessarily, or destroying plants without basis, is considered inappropriate to the compassionate spirit of Buddhism.

This sutta also relates to the fact that bhikkhus should not store seeds or cultivated plants, because this may lead to ambition or attachment. The ideal of a bhikkhu is to live a simple, possessionless life, content with what is provided through almsround (piṇḍapāta).

Practical Meaning

Hariteuccāra offers many valuable lessons for modern practitioners.