Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pc 79Raising a Hand

Talasattika Sutta (Raising the Hand)

Background

The Talasattika Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Pātimokkha section of the basic rules of the Sangha. It is not a discourse in the strict sense, but a monastic rule (sikkhāpada) concerning the act of raising the hand in the context of ceremonies and collective decisions in the community of monks and nuns.

In the narratives of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Buddha often established rules based on specific situations encountered by bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs. Talasattika was established to address cases related to raising the hand during voting or confirmation of decisions by the Sangha.

Main Content

The Talasattika rule aims to ensure the clarity and openness of Sangha decisions. When there are matters requiring collective resolution — such as ordination, disciplinary punishment, or confirmation of a bhikkhu’s status — all eligible members must express their decision clearly, without concealment or ambiguity.

Raising the hand (talasattika) is a way of expressing a decision without any ambiguity. It ensures that each monastic participates actively and publicly in the decision-making process. This reflects the basic democratic principle of the Buddhist Sangha: there is no absolute personal authority; all decisions are based on consensus or clear voting by the whole assembly.

This rule also prevents “ambiguous” situations in which some bhikkhus might pretend not to participate in order to avoid responsibility or cause trouble. Talasattika requires absolute transparency and personal responsibility before the community.

Practical Meaning

In terms of practice, Talasattika is not only an administrative rule but also a profound lesson in responsibility and truthfulness. It teaches that each of our actions, even something as small as raising a hand, has meaning and cannot be hidden.