San Lo Bi Vb Sk 23Na niṣaṇṇo hastaṁ kokṛtyamvā pādakaukṛtyamvā
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na niṣaṇṇo hastaṁ kokṛtyamvā pādakaukṛtyamvā
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Vinaya Piṭaka: Na Niṣaṇṇo Hastaṁ Kokṛtyamvā Pādakaukṛtyamvā
Background
This passage appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the explanation of the rules for nuns. It is a rule concerning the proper conduct of bhikkhunīs while sitting in meditation or in quiet situations.
The context of this compilation reflects the attention of Theravāda Buddhism to every detail of monastic conduct. The rules in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga were established to help women monastics maintain stillness, avoid distraction, and develop respect for the life of practice. This rule specifically concerns bodily attitude and sitting posture, especially in the context of meditation or quiet activities.
Main Content
The title "Na niṣaṇṇo hastaṁ kokṛtyamvā pādakaukṛtyamvā" may be understood as: "When seated, one should not make unnecessary movements with the hands or unnecessary movements with the feet." This is a teaching on calm and bodily control.
This rule instructs women monastics that when in a seated state, whether in meditation, chanting, or listening to the Dharma, they should avoid restless movements such as waving the hands, scratching unconsciously, or moving the feet continuously. Such movements not only express instability, but may also interrupt one’s own concentration and that of those around one.
In the Theravāda tradition, meditation (jhāna) is regarded as a noble state requiring the body to be completely still. Any movement, however small, is considered a sign that the mind is not yet fully collected. Therefore, this rule is not a punishment, but practical guidance helping monastics develop concentration and respect the collective learning environment.
Practical Meaning
From the perspective of practice, this rule teaches us that body and mind are one.
🌏 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.