San Lo Bi Vb Sk 14Well-Restrained (2nd)

Dutiyasusaṁvuta Sutta (The Second Practice of Good Restraint)

Background

The Dutiyasusaṁvuta Sutta is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka, expressing the Theravāda Buddhist position on disciplinary education and spiritual training. This Vinaya collection was compiled after the first council for the recitation of the Vinaya, in order to record the principles and rules governing the conduct of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. "Dutiya" means "second," indicating that this is the second time the Buddha and the Sangha discussed the matter of restraint (saṁvuta), or the keeping of discipline.

During the Buddha’s lifetime, he saw that his disciples needed clear guidance in order to practice in accordance with the Dharma. From actual situations, the Buddha laid down rules of training (sikkhāpada) to help those gone forth become well-restrained persons, abandoning conduct harmful to themselves and to others.

Main Content

This sutta focuses on the concept of "susaṁvuta" (the practice of good restraint), that is, a monastic who lives with complete discipline, not only in bodily action but also in speech and thought. This is the foundation of virtue in Theravāda Buddhism.

According to the Theravāda tradition, restraint is divided into many aspects: restraint of the senses (indriyasamvara), restraint in speech (vācīsamvara), moderation in food (bhojane mattaññutā), and devotion to wakefulness (jāgariyānuyoga). Each of these aspects is regarded as an essential step on the path of practice leading to liberation (moksha).

The sutta emphasizes that one who is well restrained is one who:

• Guards the sense faculties, not allowing them to be carried away by sense objects (rūpa, sadda, gandha, rasa, photthabba);
• Speaks truthful words, avoiding false or jealous speech;
• Knows moderation in eating and drinking, neither being too greedy nor causing the body to be exhausted;
• Maintains heedfulness (appamāda) in all postures: walking, standing, sitting, and lying down.