Mpt Sk 13Not Noisy
Pāli / Sanskrit:Appasadda
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Discourse on Not Being Noisy (Appasadda)
Background
The Discourse on Not Being Noisy belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Pāli Canon and is found in the section regulating conduct to be avoided in order to maintain the discipline of the Sangha. In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Pitaka is not merely a collection of mechanical rules, but an expression of the Noble Eightfold Path in the concrete life of a monk.
The Mpt collection (Suttavibhanga Pātimokkhasuttaniddesa) is the detailed explanation of the rules in the Pātimokkha, the list of 227 or 250 precepts depending on the school. The Appasadda Discourse especially emphasizes the issue of noise, sounds that disturb the space of practice.
Main Content
This discourse instructs bhikkhus to avoid making noise in monasteries and residences for the rains retreat (vihāra). According to the Vinaya Pitaka, a monk should not make unnecessary loud sounds such as chewing food noisily, closing doors loudly, speaking loudly early in the morning, shouting, or laughing loudly in a coarse way.
The principle is developed from a deeper purpose: to protect the pure environment that supports meditation and practice for senior members of the Sangha, especially those practicing meditative absorption (jhāna). Noise is regarded as an act lacking respect, lacking mindfulness (sati), and violating the basic ethics of the Sangha.
The discourse expresses an important principle: the individual must be aware of responsibility toward the common community. This is not out of fear of punishment, but from understanding that one’s small actions affect the collective practice. This is the foundation of self-aware ethics (samaya-anurakkhita) in early Buddha-Dharma.
Practical Meaning
The meaning of Appasadda does not stop at an external rule. It reflects a deep principle of practice: “not noisy” (appasadda) symbolizes a mental state not agitated by external sensations, a kind of inner “quietness” (appasaddacittam).
In the context of meditation, noise is an expression of an unsettled mind.
🌏 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.