Lzh Dg Bi Pm Sk 90Walking Behind
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pacchatogamana
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Explanation of the Pacchatogamana Sutra (Walking Behind)
Context
The Pacchatogamana Sutra is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhadharma tradition, specifically in the Suttavibhanga section (the analysis of the rules). This is one of the detailed regulations concerning the gestures and actions of bhikkhus in the life of practice.
The context in which this sutra appeared is connected with a specific event at the city of Sāvatthī, where the Buddha and his disciples once lived. Some bhikkhus engaged in conduct unsuitable to Sangha discipline, and from this the Buddha established rules to maintain the purity and dignity of the Sangha.
The Vinaya Piṭaka in general was built gradually; each rule was intended to remedy a specific problem caused by bhikkhus. This sutra was not created arbitrarily by the Buddha, but was a wise response to lapses in practice and communal discipline.
Main Content
Pacchatogamana (pacchatogamana = going behind; pacchatā = behind, ogamana = going) concerns the act of walking behind someone, especially in situations involving interaction between bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, or between bhikkhus and laypeople.
This regulation emphasizes that when a bhikkhu must walk behind a person, his gestures, distance, and intention must conform to the principles of the Vinaya Piṭaka. The act of "walking behind" is not merely a physical matter but an expression of attitude, mental intention, and respect for the rules.
Specifically, this sutra is related to regulations on how a bhikkhu should act in certain situations, ensuring that there is no conduct that might give rise to suspicion or harm the honor of the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is concerned not only with unwholesome actions, but also with actions that may be misunderstood.
Practical Meaning
The Pacchatogamana Sutra teaches us that practice of the Buddhadharma is not found only in thought, but also in each gesture and each step we take.
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