Xct Mu Bi Pm Sk 63Na thutthukāraka
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na thutthukāraka
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Na Thutthukāraka Sutta: The Buddha’s Criticism
Background
The Na Thutthukāraka Sutta, “things that should not be praised,” is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of rules governing the communal life of Buddhist monks and nuns. This text appears in the context of Buddha Gotama teaching his disciples about negligence in the practice of discipline and training. It is not a text of profound doctrine, but practical guidance concerning actions that absolutely should not be praised or encouraged within the community of practitioners.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation for governing the life of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. Rather than merely listing prohibitions, disciplinary texts are often accompanied by narrative accounts explaining causes and consequences. Na Thutthukāraka is part of these regulations, intended to protect the purity of the Sangha and preserve correct practice.
Main Content
The Na Thutthukāraka Sutta clearly states that there are actions, words, or attitudes of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs that the Buddha does not approve, delight in, or encourage. These actions include violations that may not be grave offenses according to the Pāṭimokkha, the communal precepts, but are still forms of negligence that should not appear in the community of practice.
Specifically, the actions “not to be praised” (na thutthukāraka) are deeds that may arouse greed, hatred, and delusion, the three basic unwholesome poisons (akusala). This may relate to matters such as seeking fame, liking praise and blame, idle talk unrelated to the Dharma, liking to mingle with worldly life, or having uneven attitudes when interacting with one person or another. The Buddha emphasizes that such conduct weakens the spirit of practice and turns one away from the purpose of going forth.
The text also implicitly indicates that although these things may not yet be violations of a direct prohibition, they show that the mind is strong in defilement or is still governed by impurities (kilesa). The guiding principle of the Buddha-Dharma is not only formal observance, but the purification of mind and intention, removing hidden motives that still remain.
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