Lzh Dg Bu Pm Sk 13Arms Akimbo (2nd)
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyakhambhakata
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EXPLANATION OF THE DUTIYAKHAMBHAKATA SUTRA (THE SECOND RULE ON THE ARMS-AKIMBO POSTURE)
Background
The Dutiyakhambhakata sutra is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, a sacred part of the Pāli Canon where the Buddha and earlier Sangha elders established rules of practice for monastics (bhikkhus). The Vinaya Piṭaka is the ethical foundation of the Sangha community, ensuring purity and discipline in the monastery.
The title “Dutiyakhambhakata,” the second rule on the arms-akimbo posture, refers to a specific detail in the conduct of monks. Khambhakata is a word indicating the posture of standing with the two hands placed across the shoulders or body. The repetition of this detail in the Vinaya Piṭaka shows that the Buddha paid special attention to minute actions, because even small gestures express mindfulness and reverence.
Main Content
This sutra belongs to the type of regulations governing daily conduct in the Sangha: rules that shape the everyday behavior of bhikkhus within the community. The posture of placing both hands across the shoulders or a similar gesture is mentioned not accidentally, but with a clear purpose: it is a way of expressing respect when encountering elders or in situations that require the arousing of reverence.
The appearance of the phrase “second” (dutiya) suggests that this matter had been repeated by the Buddha more than once, a sign that some monks may not have fully followed the guidance. This reflects an important principle in Theravāda practice: repetition of the teaching is necessary for building wholesome habits.
The deeper purpose of this rule is not merely outward etiquette. It is to cultivate a mind of respect, loving-kindness (mettā), humility, and awareness of interrelationship; at every moment, even a small gesture is an opportunity to cultivate the mind.
Practical Meaning
The Dutiyakhambhakata sutra teaches us that in Buddhism no detail is too small to be overlooked.
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