San Sarv Bu Pm Finot Sk 113Climbing Tree Higher Than a Person
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na sādhikapauruṣa
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Discourse “Not Climbing a Tree Higher Than a Person”
Background
This discourse is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection governing the discipline of the Buddhist Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a set of formal rules, but the manifestation of the Buddha’s wisdom and immeasurable compassion for those who wish to practice liberation. The discourse is drawn from the Pātimokkha, the fundamental disciplinary rules, where the Buddha set out prohibited actions to protect the body and mind of bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, and practitioners.
The Pāli title “Na sādhikapauruṣa” means “that which does not exceed the height of a person standing upright.” This is a practical regulation concerning conduct that respects oneself and the community of practice, built on the foundation of the Noble Eightfold Path and the practice of the Four Right Efforts (Cattāro Sammappadhānā).
Main Content
This discourse refers to the Buddha’s prohibition against bhikkhus climbing trees higher than the height of an ordinary person standing upright. This arose from the Buddha’s observation that such an action could endanger oneself, lead to bodily injury, or create an undignified sight within the Sangha.
The deeper reason for this rule is not merely physical safety. Rather, the Buddha wished to protect the life and conduct of practitioners. When monastics consciously respect their own bodies, not acting recklessly and not harming themselves, they are training in sati (mindfulness) and sampajaññā (clear comprehension). Each movement and each restraint in action is an opportunity to cultivate wisdom (paññā) and concentration (samādhi).
This rule also reflects the third factor of the Noble Eightfold Path: Right Action (sammā-kammanta). Right action is not arbitrary conduct, but conduct shown to be beneficial for liberation and not causing suffering to oneself or others.
🌏 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.