Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 78Hitting

SUTRA ON HITTING (PAHĀRA)

Background

The Pahāra sutra is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist Dharma, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the code of discipline. This sutra was established when the Buddha saw monastics in the Sangha using violence and striking one another, thereby violating the spirit of practice in the Dharma.

According to the Pāli tradition, this event occurred after the Buddha had founded the Sangha. Some disciples, still hot-tempered or not yet clearly understanding the meaning of the Dharma, used violence to argue with or punish fellow practitioners. Seeing this situation, the Buddha acted immediately and laid down the rule on the act of striking (pahāra) as a clear prohibition. This sutra is among the most basic rules, showing the importance of respecting the body and bodily integrity of others within the community of practice.

Main Content

The Pahāra rule prohibits all members of the Sangha from using physical violence, including hitting, punching, biting, or causing injury in any form to another person. The act of striking is regarded as a serious fault, whether Pācittiya or Saṅghādisesa depending on the degree and context, requiring confession and repentance before the Sangha.

This rule applies not only to monastics but also reflects the general principle of ahiṃsā, non-harming, one of the cores of the Buddha’s Dharma. When someone strikes another, they not only injure the outer body, but also reveal unwholesome states such as greed, hatred, and delusion (lobha, dosa, moha). This directly contradicts the practice of the Noble Path, which cultivates compassion and wisdom.

The Pahāra sutra also clearly records that even if an act of striking appears small or trivial, it remains an intentional act of harm and therefore bears consequences according to the law of Dharma.