Xct Mu Bu Vb Sk 58Poking Tongue

COMMENTARY ON THE JIVHĀNICCHĀRAKA SUTTA (THE DISCOURSE ON STICKING OUT THE TONGUE)

Background

The Jivhānicchāraka Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the detailed regulations for bhikkhunīs. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a dry set of rules but also a record of concrete situations that led the Buddha to establish each training rule in order to protect the monastic community. Each Vinaya discourse has an originating story (nidāna), describing the incident the Buddha had to address.

This discourse concerns the act of “sticking out the tongue” (jivhā-nicchāraka), that is, putting the tongue outside the mouth in an improper way. Though this act may seem harmless, in the highest discipline of Theravāda Vinaya it is regarded as a breach of conduct for a bhikkhunī, one who has gone forth to train the mind and act in a dignified and complete manner.

Main Content

According to the Vinaya tradition, this discourse records an incident in which a bhikkhunī stuck her tongue out casually, perhaps in play or to mock someone. This act was regarded as lacking modesty (aparibhoga) and as unsuitable for the image of one gone forth. After the Buddha learned of it, he established a training rule (sikkhāpada) to prevent this behavior.

The rule states that a bhikkhunī should not stick her tongue out of her mouth improperly. If there is a genuine need, such as cleaning the mouth or receiving treatment, it must be done discreetly, without facing the fourfold assembly: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. Improper conduct would be considered a breach of the corresponding rule, or of a higher class depending on the seriousness.

The Vinaya text clearly records specific situations and the consequences of violation, in order to instruct bhikkhunīs on the importance of modesty (hiri-ottappa), better restraint of the six sense faculties, and the recognition that practice concerns not only the mind but also bodily conduct.