Lzh Dg Bu Pm Sk 90Walking Behind
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pacchatogamana
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Pacchatogamana Discourse — On Walking Behind
Background
Pacchatogamana, walking behind, is a training rule found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Suttavibhaṅga of the Pātimokkha. This is not a discourse of doctrinal exposition, but a detailed rule of practice, reflecting the Buddha’s diligence in guiding the community of monks and nuns to develop along a path of purity and discipline.
The context in which this rule appears is connected with the need to manage daily conduct in the monastic community. When bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs walk, especially when walking behind another person, there must be a certain respect and vigilance. This rule reflects the spirit of the Buddha-Dharma: in even the smallest details of life, one must act with mindfulness and ethics.
Main Content
The Pacchatogamana discourse regulates how one should act when a monk or nun must walk behind another person. According to this instruction, when walking behind someone, a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī should maintain a suitable distance and a spirit of respect. Specifically, one should not walk close on that person’s heels, should not speak loudly or cause disturbance, and should not harbor bad intentions or an unreflective state of mind.
This rule is intended to train virtues such as humility (hiri), fear of wrongdoing (ottappa), and attention to one’s own actions. Walking behind another person is not a passive act, but an opportunity to practice mindfulness (sati) and wisdom (paññā). Every step, every breath, every glance is part of the path to realization.
In particular, if one needs to follow behind a senior monk or teacher, this is also an occasion to learn directly from that person’s movements, speech, and conduct on the path. This is a direct mode of Dharma transmission (anusāsanī), not through words but through mindful observation.
Practical Meaning
At first glance, the Pacchatogamana discourse seems to be only a minor rule of conduct. Yet it contains a profound lesson in self-governance and self-examination.
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