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Early Schools · Comparative Canon · Comparative Vinaya — Sanskrit

Mpt Ss 2Physical Contact

Pāli / Sanskrit:Kāyasaṁsagga

📖301 words · ~1 min read
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Interpreted by Inti AI (English)
🪷 AI interpretation

SUTTA ON PHYSICAL CONTACT (KĀYASAṂSAGGA)

Background

The Sutta on Physical Contact (Kāyasaṁsagga) belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka of the Pāli Canon, the collection of rules for monks and nuns, governing the daily life of those who have gone forth. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Pitaka is not merely a dry collection of prohibitions, but a practical expression of the Dharma, helping disciples avoid worldly entanglement and cultivate concentration of mind.

This sutta arose from specific situations in the Sangha when renunciants had bodily contact with one another. The Buddha, with a profound intention to teach, gave guidance on what should be observed in order to preserve purity of mind and body, while steadfastly cultivating the perfections, especially the perfection of patience (khanti-pāramitā).

Main Content

The specific content of this sutta has not yet been fully translated in common translations. However, based on the title “Kāyasaṁsagga” (physical contact), this sutta concerns regulations on how male and female renunciants interact with one another. In the Theravāda Vinaya Pitaka, there are clear guidelines regarding the boundaries of physical contact; this is not a harsh prohibition but a measure to protect mind and body from impure motives.

The Buddha taught that the body is one of the six faculties (indriya) that must be controlled and trained. Physical contact (phassa) is one of the twelve links of dependent origination (nidāna), connected with feeling (vedanā) and craving (taṇhā). Thus, practicing the management of physical contact is one practical way to restrain craving and accumulate the strength of concentration.

The sutta emphasizes that these restrictions are not meant to despise the body or regard it as filthy, but to cultivate purity of mind and avoid situations that can distract the faculties. This is evidence of the Buddha’s skillfulness and compassion in guiding the Sangha.

🌏Why is this sūtra summarized by Inti AI?

🌏 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.

Translation source: Interpreted by AILicense: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu) · EN: AI translation from Vietnamese source, awaiting source English

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.

🔗Parallel editions
Bu Ss 2 · 2. Physical contact with a womanVinaya Piṭaka — The Discipline BasketLzh Mg Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Dg Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseBu Ss 2 · 2. Physical contact with a womanVinaya Piṭaka — The Discipline BasketLzh Dg Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Mu Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseSan Lo Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — SanskritUpp Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Mg Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseKa Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseSan Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — Sanskrit
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