Xct Mu Bu Vb Sk 14Lowered Eyes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Okkhittacakkhu
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The Lowered Eyes Sutta (Okkhittacakkhu)
Background
This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the analysis of the discipline for bhikkhunīs. Its setting arose when the Buddha established training rules for the female Sangha, the bhikkhunī saṃgha, in order to protect purity of mind and maintain the principle of humility in daily life. The rule of “lowered eyes,” okkhittacakkhu, reflects a basic principle of the Buddha-Dharma: control of the sense faculties is the first step on the path of liberation.
The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of prohibitions, but a profound system of ethical education, guiding the monastic community in living harmoniously and practicing concentration. The Okkhittacakkhu Sutta belongs among the regulations concerning everyday conduct, especially what should be observed when walking, communicating, or carrying out daily activities.
Main Content
The rule of “lowered eyes” states that when a nun walks, works, or comes into contact with others, she should lower her gaze and not let her eyes wander or look in unnecessary directions. This action is not a sign of negativity, but an expression of mindfulness and restraint of the faculties, indriya-saṃvara.
In the Theravāda Buddha-Dharma, restraint of the faculties, indriya-saṃvara, is regarded as an essential foundation of practice. The eye, cakkhu, is one of the principal faculties, and it is a main gateway for impressions from the external world. When the eye functions without restraint, the mind is easily carried away by visual impressions, leading to the arising of craving, lobha, aversion, dosa, or delusion, moha.
Lowering the gaze, in canonical language, means maintaining a certain psychological distance from objects, not allowing the mind to be scattered by unintentional stimuli. This is especially important in a community where members live and practice together.
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