Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 89Temperamental to Live With
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sokāvāsa
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Sokāvāsa Sutta — Living Together with a Hot-Tempered Person
Background
Sokāvāsa (Pali: soka + āvāsa, meaning "living together with sorrow/suffering or living together with a difficult person") is a regulation in the Vinaya Pitaka, within the Pācittiya section (offenses requiring confession). This sutta arose from a specific situation in the monastic community, when disciples of the Buddha appeared gentle outwardly but were in character hot-tempered, easily irritated, and caused disturbance in the collective practice.
The historical background shows that the Buddha Gotama had to establish rules to protect the harmony and stillness of the Sangha, creating favorable conditions for the cultivation of mind. This regulation emphasizes that not everyone is suited to living together in a community of practice, especially those with psychological illness or unstable temperament.
Main Content
The Sokāvāsa Sutta warns that a monastic or bhikkhu who is hot-tempered, often gives rise to affliction, and is difficult toward fellow practitioners should not be accepted into the communal training community; or, if already living together, should be corrected or separated.
The characteristics of "a difficult person to live with" (sokāvāsa puggala) include: easily becoming angry at instruction, frequently causing tension in relationships with fellow practitioners, refusing to receive guidance, often speaking ill of people in the community, and weakening the faith of lay followers.
This rule is not discriminatory, but a protective measure. It allows monks and nuns to teach and admonish such a person, but if the person does not change, the community has the right to decide not to allow that person to live together, or to ask that person to leave or practice independently elsewhere. The ultimate purpose is to preserve the sacredness and peace (upasama) of the Sangha.
Practical Meaning
The Sokāvāsa Sutta teaches us that the practice of the Buddhadharma is not only an individual matter, but one connected with the community. A harmonious community (samavattā sangha) is the foundation for all members to develop meditation and wisdom.
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