San Asc 6Locals

Exposition of the Nevāsika Sutta (Those Without a Place of Residence)

Background

The Nevāsika Sutta lies within the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhuni Vinaya. This is not a discourse of doctrinal preaching (Sutta), but a set of rules of virtuous training so that Buddhist women going forth and leaving the household life may build disciplined conduct and observe the community of practice.

The context that gave rise to this discourse came from the need to manage the community of bhikkhunis during the Buddha's lifetime. As the Buddha-Dharma spread, nuns traveled from place to place and had no long-term dwelling, leading to disputes about rules of conduct. The Buddha therefore gave instructions so that the women of the community could learn together according to the most proper Dharma.

Main Content

The Nevāsika Sutta, provisionally translated as "Those Without a Place of Residence," addresses the situation of bhikkhunis who have no fixed dwelling. In the context of early Buddhism, nuns often had to move about to teach, attend assemblies, or seek a place to study the Dharma. However, this unstable life could easily lead to negligence in conduct and thus violate principles of communal governance.

The discourse states that nuns should not stay in unsafe places and should not decide on their own to rest in places not approved by the Sangha. In particular, women renunciants must maintain communal habits and observe the discipline of the Sangha (Sangha Sila), even when staying temporarily. This rule also emphasizes the responsibility to preserve the virtue of the whole community, because individual conduct affects the honor of the Sangha.

The content sets forth legitimate reasons for temporary residence in places that are not long-term and emphasizes the role of senior nuns in guiding new nuns. This reflects a common principle of the Buddha-Dharma: personal freedom must be balanced with collective responsibility.