San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Sk 91Na mauliśirase

Exposition of the Na Mauliśirase Sūtra

Background

The Na Mauliśirase Sūtra is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to record rules and instructions concerning moral discipline and the communal discipline of monks and nuns in the time of the Buddha Gotama. This collection originated from ancient Pāli versions and was transmitted through Theravāda Buddhist institutions from the third century BCE onward.

The title "Na mauliśirase" (不應觸頭頂), in its Pāli-Sanskrit sense, is connected with regulations concerning actions, gestures, and respect within the community of monks and nuns. This sūtra was taught in the context of Buddhism’s development in ancient Indian lands, where standards of social conduct and reverence were extremely important.

Main Content

The Na Mauliśirase Sūtra focuses on regulations concerning respect for moral character (sīla) and virtuous conduct within the community of monks and nuns. Specifically, the sūtra teaches that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs should not perform actions of an insulting or disrespectful nature toward fellow monastics. This includes rules concerning bodily gestures, speech, and intention.

The sūtra emphasizes the principle that monastics must always maintain heedfulness (appamāda), restraint of the senses (indriya-samvara), and conduct marked by respect toward companions on the path. The specific regulations presented help monks and nuns clearly understand the boundary between appropriate and inappropriate conduct in communal life.

The Vinaya Piṭaka in general, and this sūtra in particular, are not arbitrary imposed restrictions. They are guidelines based on the wisdom of the Buddha and the elders, intended to create a harmonious and pure environment for the practice of the entire Sangha. Every rule has a deeper purpose: to train collective awareness, reduce disputes, and create the best conditions for pursuing the Path.