San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Sk 25Laughing Loudly
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ujjagghika
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The Ujjagghika Sutta (Laughing Loudly)
Background
The Ujjagghika Sutta (Laughing Loudly) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, among the disciplinary rules for bhikkhunis. It is one of the Vinaya texts related to the rules of moral conduct; the central person or specific situation usually reflects a real event that occurred in the early monastic community of Buddhism. Such Vinaya texts were taught by the Blessed Buddha in order to regulate conduct, maintain discipline, and protect the integrity of the noble community.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a set of penal rules but also a spiritual teaching. The word "ujjagghika" is analyzed from "ujja" (great, high) and "gghika" (related to laughing), indicating the act of laughing loudly in a disrespectful or uncontrolled way. The background of this sutta usually appears when bhikkhunis laughed or joked too loudly, losing dignity during chanting, great assemblies, or communal activities in the monastery.
Main Content
The Ujjagghika Sutta deals with a disciplinary issue related to the conduct of laughing loudly among bhikkhunis in the community. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, laughing loudly is considered conduct lacking composure and unsuitable for the status of one gone forth. The Blessed Buddha stated that bhikkhunis should maintain dignity, modesty, and care in every action, word, and intention of mind.
When a bhikkhuni laughs loudly, this is regarded as a violation of the spirit of practice and a loss of dignity for the noble community. Such behavior can cause the laity to lose faith, diminish the reputation of the community of monks and nuns, and also reflect a lack of mindfulness and inner control. The Vinaya Piṭaka therefore gives specific regulations for reproving such actions, not for the purpose of punishment, but to educate and correct the mental conduct of practitioners.
The legal rules related to laughing loudly are not merely about outward action; they also reflect an inner quality.
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