Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 16Swinging the Arms

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-DHARMA

RULE 16

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus swung their arms when entering the homes of white-robed householders. The lay people saw this, criticized them, and said: "These Śākyan monastics know no shame. They receive without knowing satisfaction. Outwardly they claim: 'I know the true Dharma.' Yet what sort of Dharma is this? To swing the arms back and forth when entering the homes of householders — just like kings, great ministers, and elders."

The bhikkhus heard of this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who lived the ascetic practices, delighted in training in the precepts, and knew shame. They criticized the group of six bhikkhus: "Why do you swing your arms when entering the homes of householders?"

Having rebuked them, the bhikkhus went to the place of the Blessed One, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then related this entire matter to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong, lacking in proper deportment, not in accordance with the conduct of a monastic, not in accordance with pure practice, not in accordance with harmonious conduct — it is something that should not be done. Why do you swing your arms when entering the homes of householders?"

At that time, the Blessed One, having rebuked them with countless skillful means, said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish persons are a field where many seeds of defilement are sown; they are the first to transgress this rule. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, for the sake of ten purposes, up to and including the purpose of causing the true Dharma to endure long."

The rule should be stated as follows:

One should train thus: I will not swing my arms when entering the homes of householders — this is a śaikṣa-dharma.

Bhikkhu: as explained above.

Swinging the arms: letting the arms hang and swinging them forward while walking.

If a bhikkhu deliberately swings his arms when entering the home of a householder, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, it constitutes a duṣkṛta of improper deportment. If it is done without intention, it is only a duṣkṛta.

For bhikkhunīs: duṣkṛta. For śikṣamāṇās, śrāmaṇeras, and śrāmaṇerīs: duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one is afflicted by some illness; or if one is struck by another person and raises a hand to ward off the blow; or if a fierce elephant approaches, or a lion, a dangerous animal, robbers, or a person running forward wielding thorns, and one raises a hand to ward them off; or if one is wading across a river, jumping across a pit of water or a muddy swamp; or if one's travelling companion cannot keep up and one waves a hand to call to them — all of these are non-offenses.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who transgresses for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or overcome and oppressed by acute pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA, PART ONE.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

(Chinese translation, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, volumes 1–2.)

Buddhist Publication Committee 2002.