Xct Mu Bu Pm Sk 86Nātyastikākṛtasya

Nātyastikākṛtasya Sutta

Background

The Nātyastikākṛtasya Sutta (Vietnamese: “On the actions of one who lies”) is a part of the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the area concerning rules of ethics and conduct for monks and nuns in the Sangha. In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation of monastic and Sangha life, regulating proper conduct.

This sutta appears in the context of issues concerning truthfulness, deceit, and actions not in accord with Buddhist ethics. The principles in the sutta are intended to protect the spirit of practice, maintain the purity of the Sangha, and ensure that each member of the practicing community lives in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching. It is part of the system of the Pātimokkha, the rules of liberation, honored as the basis of the life gone forth.

Main Content

The Nātyastikākṛtasya Sutta focuses on warnings about deceitful actions and speech. Specifically, the sutta examines the nature of behaviors considered ethical violations in the Sangha community, especially cases involving dishonesty, concealment of the truth, or deceiving other members.

A basic principle emphasized is that the actions of a monastic must accord with their words. If speech is not consistent with action, this is regarded as a violation of sammāvācā (right speech). The sutta also examines specific cases in which dishonesty may damage the faith of others or weaken the shared mind of the path.

Through specific examples and situations, the sutta analyzes how lying can cause a monk or nun to lose credibility, the trustworthiness of practice, and what it means to practice truthfulness (sacca) comprehensively. This is not only about refraining from lying in speech, but also about consistency among mind, words, and action.

Practical Meaning

In Theravāda Buddhism, truthfulness is not merely an external ethical standard, but a direct expression of a contemplative mind (mindfulness) and wisdom (paññā).