San Lo Bi Pn 31Abandoning Deportment

Sutra on Abandoning Proper Conduct (Ācāra-vikopanā)

Background

This sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition and reflects the communal regulations of the early Buddhist Sangha. The title “ācāra-vikopanā” means “abandoning negligent conduct” or “giving up evil actions in one’s deportment.” This is part of Sañjīya Lo (Samantapassādika Lo), the regulations concerning Sangha discipline intended to maintain the purity and dignity of the monastery.

The historical background records that, after the Buddha began teaching the Dharma, some bhikkhus behaved in ways inconsistent with the spirit of practice: engaging in trivial talk, laughing and speaking noisily, or making disrespectful gestures. These actions negatively affected the image of the Sangha and the offerings of lay supporters. Therefore, the Buddha established rules concerning gestures, speech, and action so that bhikkhus would maintain purity in outward form and inward mind.

Main Content

The sutra emphasizes that bhikkhus must completely abandon offensive and undignified behavior. Specifically, bhikkhus must not laugh and speak noisily, move too forcefully, or display coarse expressions before laypeople. Every movement in walking, standing, sitting, and speaking must be calm, measured, and considered. The kāṣāya robe must be worn properly, neither hanging loosely nor dragging. The gaze must be measured (cakkhupatha), not wandering in all directions, but directed toward necessary objects.

In particular, the sutra clearly states: bhikkhus must not laugh loudly, must not be slovenly, and must not easily take offense or become angry in public. When going on alms round (piṇḍapāta), a bhikkhu must walk according to the rule, stepping lightly, eyes lowered, not absorbed in looking around. This is not from fear, but from dignity and reverence toward the Buddhist practice.

These regulations are called the “Pātimokkha” (Mộc Xà) — the basic rules that every bhikkhu must observe.