Ka Bu Pm Sk 79Walking Behind
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pacchatogamana
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Exposition of the Pacchatogamana Sutta (Walking Behind)
Context
The Pacchatogamana Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in Khandhaka Bu Pm Sk 79. This is a sutta of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, where the Vinaya is regarded as the foundation of Sangha life, ensuring discipline and harmony in the monastic community.
Pacchatogamana means "walking behind" or "following behind." This sutta arose from specific situations in the life of practice of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, when rules had to be observed regarding bodily action, manner of movement, and ceremonial conduct during travel or ritual. The context of the legal suttas often begins with questions from disciples or situations encountered, after which the Buddha sets forth a rule for regulation.
Main Content
The Pacchatogamana Sutta concerns rules on how to control the body when following behind another person or when moving in specific circumstances. In the context of the Sangha, this has meaning in terms of respect, discipline, and mindfulness (sati).
According to the Vinaya tradition, when a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī walks behind another person, especially elders or those worthy of respect, certain regulations must be observed. These regulations are not unreasonable strictness, but expressions of mindfulness, self-control, and mutual respect. The sutta regulates how to keep an appropriate distance, how to walk with suitable posture, and how to serve without provocation or disrespect.
This also reflects the Vinaya principle that every action of the Sangha should be conscious. The body is an instrument of the mind, and the control of the body through Vinaya rules is a way to train the mind toward concentration (samadhi) and wisdom (panna).
Practical Meaning
The Pacchatogamana Sutta teaches that mindfulness is not merely an abstract mental state, but must be expressed clearly through every bodily action.
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