San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Sk 33Na sarvakāyaṁ samavadhāyā niṣatsyāma

EXPOSITION OF THE “NA SARVAKĀYAṀ SAMAVADHĀYĀ NIṢATSYĀMA” SUTTA

Background

The sutta “Na sarvakāyaṁ samavadhāyā niṣatsyāma” (closest in Pāli: “Na sabba-kāyaṁ samavadhāya nisīdissāma”) appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically among the training rules concerning posture and conduct for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. It is one of the passages related to moral discipline (sīla) and the governance of bodily action (kāya) in the renunciant way of life.

The foundation of this sutta lies in the context in which the Buddha Siddhartha Gotama established training rules (sikkhāpada) for the monastic Sangha. These rules were not meaningless restrictions, but guidelines to help bhikkhus develop purity of mind and avoid actions that harm themselves and others. The Vinaya Piṭaka, as a precious collection, records historical accounts of how these rules came into being, often beginning with the Buddha’s investigation into the cause that led to a transgression.

Main Content

The phrase “Na sarvakāyaṁ samavadhāyā niṣatsyāma” means: “We shall not sit with the entire body covered or protected,” or “We shall not sit while separately covering the whole body.” The words “sarvakāya” (the whole body), “samavadhāya” (covering, protecting), and “niṣatsyāma” (shall sit) show that this rule concerns how monastics should sit in certain circumstances.

In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, rules such as this often appear as warnings against conduct that could cause misunderstanding, erode public trust, or violate the spirit of renunciation. This rule may relate to situations in which bhikkhus must avoid ways of behaving that appear deceptive, concealed, or impure in particular circumstances, especially when interacting with others or attending communal assemblies.