San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Sk 48Na cāṁsapracālakā niṣatsyāma

Explanation of the Na cāṁsapracālakā niṣatsyāma Sutta

Background

The Na cāṁsapracālakā niṣatsyāma Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, recorded in the Pāli Canon. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of rules of practice, the history of the formation of the precepts, and guidance on Sangha discipline. This sutta belongs to the Bhikkhu-vibhaṅga, the legal provisions for bhikkhus, especially related to regulations on the conduct, speech, and actions of those gone forth.

In the historical context of the Buddha-Dharma, these rules were promulgated by the Buddha to maintain harmony in the Sangha, protect ethics, and create favorable conditions for practice. Vinaya texts on "not shaking" or "not causing disturbance" reflect the Buddha’s deep concern for mental and collective stability in the renunciant community.

Main Content

The title Na cāṁsapracālakā niṣatsyāma carries the meaning "We shall not become those who shake things; we shall not cause disturbance." The word "cāṁsa" (wing) here is understood symbolically as those who act, those who influence; "pracālakā" are those who cause shaking and disturbance; "niṣatsyāma" means we shall not, we shall refuse.

This sutta refers to a basic principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: bhikkhus and bhikkhunis must not cause disturbance or shaking within the Sangha through actions such as mistaken scheming, forming factions, or stirring up disputes. This is an implicit prohibition expressed through a positive declaration of not acting in that way.

The content of the sutta is closely connected with the legal provisions on "matters causing dispute" (vivāda) and "rules concerning schism" (sthūlā) in the Vinaya. The goal is to protect the unity of the Sangha (saṅgha), avoiding conflicts that could destroy the shared environment of practice.