San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Sk 22Lowered Eyes (2nd)
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyaokkhittacakkhu
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EXPLANATION OF THE DUTIYAOKKHITTACAKKHU SUTTA (THE SECOND TEACHING ON LOWERED EYES)
Background
The Dutiyaokkhittacakkhu Sutta (the second teaching on lowered eyes) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, in the Khandaka section, where the conduct, postures, and manners of monks and nuns are regulated. This is not a sermon text, but a rule of training related to the discipline of the monastic community. Its background arises from events in the life of the Buddha Gotama, when monks, nuns, or disciples made mistakes in posture and manner of looking, leading the Buddha to establish rules for education and mental cultivation.
The term "okkhittacakkhu" (lowered eyes, or lowering the eyes) refers to the act of looking downward, an outward expression of respect, humility, and sense control. In the context of Vinaya study, this is an important detail distinguishing pure from impure conduct, especially in relation to restraint of the senses (indriyasamvara), one of the basic factors of virtuous conduct.
Main Content
This sutta repeats a rule mentioned earlier, hence the name "the second," concerning how monastics should keep their eyes while walking, standing, or sitting. This rule emphasizes that followers of the Buddha should maintain the state of "lowered eyes," that is, looking ahead about an arm’s length (tatoggunam), rather than looking about restlessly, glancing around, or letting the eyes wander.
This regulation is not blind strictness, but a means of practice to reduce mental distraction. When the eyes are not controlled, the mind is easily stimulated by external images, leading to greed, hatred, and delusion, the three poisons. Conversely, when one lowers the eyes and controls the eye faculty (cakkhundriya), a monastic protects the mind from unnecessary stimulation and thereby maintains stillness and concentration.
Teachings related to this rule are often taught in the broader context of the five indriya (five faculties or powers) and the five bala (five strengths).
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