Xct Mu Bi Pm Sk 59Poking Tongue
Pāli / Sanskrit:Jivhānicchāraka
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EXPLANATION OF THE JIVHĀNICCHĀRAKA SUTTA
(The Sutta on Sticking Out the Tongue)
Background
The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically among the rules concerning the conduct of bhikkhus. It is a small text belonging to the Mula Parisaya, the basic Vinaya of the Theravāda tradition, directly related to keeping discipline and forming wholesome habits in the community of monks and nuns.
In the context of building a Sangha that is compassionate and disciplined, the Buddha saw that small actions, seemingly harmless, could become causes of annoyance or lead to provocation within the community. Sticking out the tongue, whether from habit or curiosity, is an action that can cause distraction, break dignity, or even make others uncomfortable. Therefore, the Buddha-Dharma pays attention to even the smallest details in the conduct of a practitioner.
Main Content
This text records the Buddha’s specific guidance that one should not stick out the tongue unconsciously or deliberately within the community of monks and nuns. This action is regarded as an expression of lack of awareness, lack of respect, or even a sign of a frivolous mind. In the context of practice, where every movement and every spoken word is carefully attended to, sticking out the tongue represents loss of control over body and mind.
The Buddha taught that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī should always guard the sense faculties: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind, with moderation and awareness. The tongue, a symbol of speech and of the will to control oneself, should not be allowed to act arbitrarily. Sticking out the tongue may be compared with allowing the mind to wander without restraint; both are signs of one who has not yet fully collected the mind.
The text indicates that bhikkhus who violate this guidance will be warned, criticized, or, in repeated cases, receive appropriate admonition.
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