Bi Pc 1010. Watching entertainment
Pāli / Sanskrit:Naccagīta
A nun who goes to see a show must confess the offense.
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The Naccagīta Rule (The Matter of Watching Song and Dance)
From the Vinaya Piṭaka — Theravāda Tradition
Background
The Naccagīta rule appears in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the Code of Discipline for Nuns) of the Pāli Canon, contained within the Vinaya Piṭaka — the legal foundation of the Theravāda Buddhist Sangha. It is one of the specific regulations pertaining to the pure manner of life of female monastics.
According to tradition, this rule was established when the Buddha discovered that certain nuns were still spending time watching performances of entertainment such as singing, dancing, and other public shows. Such conduct was regarded as incompatible with the spirit of the renunciant life, since it stirs up sensual desires, causes the mind to wander away from the practice of liberation, and violates the purity befitting one who has gone forth in the holy life.
Main Content
The Naccagīta rule stipulates: "If a bhikkhunī goes to watch a performance of singing, dancing, or other forms of entertainment (naccagīta), that bhikkhunī must confess this transgression before the Sangha or before another bhikkhunī."
This is classified as one of the offenses requiring acknowledgment (desanā), since it constitutes an act of non-compliance with the teaching of the Buddha. The confession is not intended as severe punishment, but rather to help the nun clearly recognize her fault and to cultivate moral shame (hirī) and moral dread (ottappa) — two fundamental ethical factors in Buddhism.
The nature of this rule is not that of a Pārājika offense (a grave offense entailing expulsion) nor a Saṅghādisesa offense (an offense requiring formal Sangha action), but rather a Dukkaṭa offense (a minor offense requiring acknowledgment). Nevertheless, the rule still affirms the high expectation of inner discipline held for those who have gone forth.
Practical Significance
This rule is not merely a prohibition; rather, it points to the very nature of Buddhist practice: restraint of the sense faculties (indriya saṁvara). Entertainments, with their captivating music, sights, and dancing, are subtle vehicles that stir up greed, hatred, and delusion — the three poisons in Buddhism.
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