San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Sk 77Poking Tongue
Pāli / Sanskrit:Jivhānicchāraka
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Exposition of the Jivhānicchāraka Sutta (The Sutta on Sticking Out the Tongue)
Background
The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha Dharma, within the rules governing the communal life of monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a formal code of regulations, but also a profound testimony to how the Buddha guided his disciples in training the discipline of body, speech, and mind.
This sutta records a specific event within the Sangha. It was a time when certain monastics, during practice or daily life, engaged in the action of sticking out the tongue (jivhānicchāraka), that is, extending the tongue from the mouth in an inappropriate way. Although this action is minor, the Buddha pointed out that it reflects a lack of awareness, lack of wisdom in governing the body, and may cause discomfort to those around one.
This event reflects a rigorous environment of practice, where every action, however small, is considered through the lens of virtue and respect.
Main Content
When actions such as sticking out the tongue were observed, the Buddha intervened by establishing a rule in the Pātimokkha, the list of actions that should not be done within the community of monks and nuns. The action of sticking out the tongue is regarded as a form of disrespect, connected with the Sekhiya-dhamma (minor training rules), the group of rules teaching refined conduct and self-discipline.
The purpose is not to punish or create unreasonable restrictions, but to awaken. Through becoming aware of the small details in one's conduct, monks and nuns learn that practicing the Buddha Dharma is a comprehensive process, extending from the greatest thoughts to the most subtle gestures.
The observance of this discipline by Buddhists is not due to fear of punishment, but because they understand that every action reflects the mind and virtue. Sticking out the tongue, when uncontrolled, may be an expression of an unfocused and insufficiently mindful mind, factors that hinder the path of practice.
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