Bi Sk 6868. Sitting on the ground
Pāli / Sanskrit:Chamā
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Chamā – Rules on Sitting on the Ground
Background
Chamā (sitting on the ground) is a rule within the Vinaya Piṭaka belonging to the Theravāda tradition. This collection of rules is recorded in the detailed regulations governing the conduct of monks and bhikkhuṇīs (nuns) in monastic life. This text reflects the rules of meditative practice and spiritual cultivation that the Buddha established in response to specific circumstances arising within the Saṅgha.
Like many other rules in the Vinaya, Chamā arose from a particular incident or transgression committed by a certain monk. The Buddha, having witnessed it or been informed of it, promulgated the rule to rectify the situation, with the aim of protecting the spirit of the path, maintaining discipline within the Saṅgha, and supporting the practice of his disciples.
The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of mechanical prohibitions; it is also an expression of the Buddha's compassion and wisdom for the Saṅgha. Each rule has a profound reason connected to the Dhamma practice, the preservation of right view, the protection of the Saṅgha's honor, and the nurturing of the spiritual life of those who have gone forth into homelessness.
Main Content
The rule of Chamā concerns the act of sitting on the ground in certain situations. Although the specific content of this rule has not been provided in full through the available descriptive information, based on the structure of the Vinaya Piṭaka, such regulations typically relate to the following:
First, regulations concerning the circumstances under which a monk is or is not permitted to sit directly on the ground, in particular with regard to maintaining cleanliness, avoiding unclean locations, or places within the monastic precinct that are considered unsuitable.
Second, this rule may regulate the act of sitting on the ground without making use of a seat or a mat already spread out, when doing so could be harmful to one's health, constitute a violation of respect for the monastic space, or be connected to conditions unsuitable for spiritual cultivation.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.