San Lo Bi Pn 26Lotus Cutting
Pāli / Sanskrit:utpala-vāpaka-pratisaṁyuktaṁ
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Lotus Cutting Discourse (Utpala-vāpaka-pratisaṁyuktaṁ)
Background
The Lotus Cutting discourse belongs to the Sutta Vibhaṅga section of the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, where the Buddha and his disciples established monastic rules (bhikkhunī-saṁvara). This discourse is not a direct sermon on spiritual doctrine, but concerns a specific act related to violating discipline in the daily life of a bhikkhunī.
The historical background shows that the Buddha criticized a bhikkhunī for cutting or destroying lotus flowers in a monastery garden. This act was regarded as a kind of violation of the spirit of the precept protecting life (pānātipāta-veramaṇī), because cutting blooming flowers may harm small living beings or obstruct the growth of plants, which are symbols of living vitality in nature.
Main Content
In the discourse, the Buddha teaches that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī should avoid actions that appear small but contain an intention of destruction or a lack of respect for life. Cutting lotus flowers, especially in the setting of a monastery garden or sacred place, is not merely a physical act but also reflects the mind of the one acting. If the motivation is careless or decorative, the act is still considered negligent; if there is an intention to injure or deliberate destruction, it becomes a heavier offense.
The discourse emphasizes that one who practices the Buddha Dharma must train in carefulness (appamāda) in every action, from small to great. Respect for nature, especially living beings and plants, is an inseparable part of preserving the precepts (sīla). In the Buddhist tradition, the lotus symbolizes purity and awakening rising from the mud. Therefore, to cut it is to intentionally destroy that symbol of purity.
Practical Meaning
The lesson from this discourse goes beyond the specific legal details.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.