Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 24Swaying
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kāyappacālaka
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Commentary on the Kāyappacālaka Sutta (The Discourse on Swaying of the Body)
Background
The Kāyappacālaka Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, within the section of regulations governing the discipline of the Sangha. This sutta arose from actual events within the earliest monastic community, during the lifetime of the Buddha. It concerns the matter of bodily conduct, specifically those movements incompatible with the dignity befitting a bhikkhu.
The word "Kāyappacālaka" derives from kāya (body) and pacālaka (swaying, wavering), referring to actions that disturb or disrupt the dignified composure of the body. This sutta appears in the context of the Buddha's need to guide the Sangha regarding specific ethical standards, for the purpose of protecting the image of the Dharma and preserving the purity of the Noble Assembly.
Principal Content
The Kāyappacālaka Sutta clearly indicates those actions that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs ought not to perform. Specifically, it warns against excessive bodily movements, those lacking proper occasion (yathāsannissita), or those of an undignified outward appearance. Actions such as swaying the body, skipping, waving the arms heedlessly, or bodily gestures of an entertaining nature that are incompatible with the deportment of the renunciant are subject to disciplinary measures.
This rule does not condemn the ordinary movements necessary for daily life, but censures only those actions that are frivolous, boastful (osadha), or incompatible with the monastic way. The Buddha emphasizes that a bhikkhu must maintain a pure and dignified appearance, enabling those who look on with trust to have faith in the Three Jewels (the Tathāgata, the Dhamma, the Sangha, and the Training).
The sutta makes clear that such violations may result in an admonition (dukkaṭa) or other penalties according to their degree, within the system of the Pāṭimokkha (the collective code of discipline).
Practical Significance
The Kāyappacālaka Sutta is not merely a set of formal rules; it reflects a profound principle: the restraint of the body (kāya-saṃvara).
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