南傳佛教徒對戒律的刻板理解偏離佛陀的教導。他們把身語意截然分開,好像三者毫不相干,事實上,在英譯巴利文中阿含經里,佛陀清楚明白地用action將身語意聯繫起來:"Rahula, when you wish to do an action by mind...you may do such an action by mind. Also, Rahula, while you are doing an action by mind...you may continue in such a mental action...........Therefore, Rahula, you should train thus:' We will purify our bodily action, our verbal action, and our mental action by repeatedly reflecting upon them."