Xct Mu Bu Pm Sk 62Not lick palate
Pāli / Sanskrit:Not lick palate
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Not Licking the Tongue Sutta (Xct Mu Bu Pm Sk 62)
Background
This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of regulations for monks and nuns in Theravāda Buddhism. The Vinaya Piṭaka is divided into three main parts: Sutta Vibhaṅga (Analysis of the Rules), Khandhaka (Sections), and Parivāra (Appendix). The regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka are not arbitrary commands, but guidelines gradually established by the Buddha Śākyamuni in the course of teaching the Sangha, in order to maintain discipline, harmony in the monastic community, and support for the path of practice.
The “Not Licking the Tongue” sutta (Not lick palate) is one of the minor regulations related to eating habits of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. Although the title may seem provincial, it reflects the attention of the Dharma to every detail of daily life, especially small actions related to attachment and enjoyment.
Main Content
The rule against licking the tongue in actual practice lies within the context of rules for monastic eating and drinking. In the Theravāda tradition, bhikkhus must follow principles regarding food in order to avoid delicious foods and immediate satisfaction of the senses. Licking the tongue, or other gestures that show excessive concentration on taste, one of the six human faculties, is regarded as an action expressing craving (taṇhā) and pleasure (sukha).
The sutta teaches that such small actions, though they may not seem serious, are signs of a mind inclined toward pleasure and attachment. The Buddha wished bhikkhus to understand that each time the tongue is licked, it is an opportunity for attachment to arise in the mind. Therefore, the rule against licking the tongue is not a punitive command, but a method of practice intended to build awareness and control of the senses.
The specific content of this sutta has not yet been fully translated in the available materials, but according to the general context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this rule is regarded as one of the “Sekhiya dhamma” (rules of training), that is, basic rules intended to train mind and action.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.