San Lo Bi Vb Sk 3Well-Restrained
Pāli / Sanskrit:Susaṁvuta
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Susaṁvuta Sutta (The One Well Restrained)
Background
The Susaṁvuta Sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, the most ancient canonical treasury preserving the teachings of the Buddha Gotama. The Vinaya Piṭaka consists of three main parts: the Sutta Vibhaṅga (detailed explanation of the rules), the Khandhaka (chapters on communal discipline), and the Parivāra (appendix). This sutta belongs to the section governing the discipline of the Sangha, where the Buddha and senior disciples discuss what kind of followers of the teaching are valid and wholesome.
The word Susaṁvuta (well controlled or well restrained) reflects a central concept in early Buddhism: saṁvara, the restraint or limitation of the sense faculties and actions. The "well restrained" person is one who has succeeded in training mind and body, observing the precepts, and nurturing the seeds of compassion and wisdom. The context of this sutta concerns the distinction of those worthy to receive offerings and the respect of the Sangha.
Main Content
The Susaṁvuta Sutta focuses on the characteristics of a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī regarded as "well restrained." This is not merely formal observance of rules, but the deep practice of disciplinary principles in three domains: indriya-saṁvara (restraint of the sense faculties), pāti-mokkha-saṁvara (observance of the basic precepts), and ājīva-saṁvara (purity in livelihood and conduct).
A well-restrained bhikkhu is one who is always vigilant when coming into contact with sense objects: forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, and ideas. Such a one does not allow greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), or delusion (moha) to take advantage of openings in the mind. They keep the precepts flexibly yet steadfastly, not merely out of fear of consequences, but because they understand the value of inner purity.
🌏 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.