Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pc 78Hitting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pahāra
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PAHĀRA SUTTA (HITTING)
Background
The Pahāra Sutta (Hitting) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, one of the most basic collections in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka records the rules for monks and nuns that Buddha Shakyamuni established for the Sangha. This sutta specifically concerns one of the improper behaviors in the life of the Sangha: the act of hitting other members or even living beings.
The living background of this sutta arose when incidents in the Sangha involved physical violence. The Buddha saw the need to establish clear instructions to preserve the spirit of compassion and harmony in the community of practice. This is an expression of the Patimokkha, the protective discipline, the most basic instructions in Buddhist moral training.
Main Content
The Pahāra Sutta establishes that the act of hitting, whether hitting another monastic, a nun, or any living being, is a violation of the Sangha’s instructions. When a monastic intentionally performs this act with the intention to harm, he commits an offense of a certain degree against the discipline.
This sutta not only forbids hitting in a disorderly way, but also affirms the principle of ahiṃsā, non-harming, as a foundation of Buddhism. The attitude of respecting the life of all beings, from humans to tiny animals, is an essential part of the path of practice for all monastics. Direct violent action contradicts the loving-kindness (mettā) and humility taught by the Buddha.
The Buddha’s establishment of these instructions shows that he understood clearly the weakness of the human mind — even those who have gone forth may still be governed by anger and lose control of their actions. Therefore, the discipline (sīla) is a protective tool helping monastics cultivate concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā).
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