Xct Mu Bu Pm Sk 72Washing Water With Rice
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sasitthaka
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Explanation of the Sasitthaka Sutta (Rice-Washing Water)
Background
The Sasitthaka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, within the rules for the daily life of the Sangha. This is not a discourse on Dharma in the doctrinal sense, but a Vinaya regulation concerning ordinary activities in the monastery. This sutta arose from specific situations involving the Buddha’s representative disciples, especially bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, in the course of study and practice.
The background of the Sasitthaka Sutta concerns the use of rice-washing water, an ordinary material in monastic life. In the context of ancient India, rice-washing water (sasitthaka, from the root sāsittha: uncooked rice, or water from washing rice) was a byproduct used for hygiene, washing clothes, and other purposes of cleanliness. This is a practical example of how the Dharma enters into ordinary aspects of life.
Main Content
The Sasitthaka Sutta states that rice-washing water is considered a material that may be used for hygienic purposes and for maintaining the cleanliness of the monastery. However, the Vinaya Piṭaka does not allow abuse or waste, because the Dharma emphasizes frugality and respect for materials, even ordinary things.
The specific regulation in this sutta concerns who may use rice-washing water, how to use it reasonably, and how not to waste it. This reflects a basic principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: managing common property efficiently and respectfully. Every item used in the monastery belongs not to anyone personally, but is common property of the Sangha, and so it must be used rightly (sammā).
This sutta is not a direct discourse on greed (lobha) or ignorance (avijjā), but in essence it is the practice of right view (sammā diṭṭhi) and right action (sammā kammanta) through the smallest actions.
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