Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 54Shaking the Hand
Pāli / Sanskrit:Hatthaniddhunaka
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Hatthaniddhunaka Scripture (The Hand-Shaking Scripture)
Background
The Hatthaniddhunaka Scripture is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically within the Bhikkhu Pātimokkha — the code of conduct for bhikkhus. This scripture records an incident that occurred in a vihara (monastery), concerning the improper conduct of a bhikkhu within the monastic community.
The title “Hatthaniddhunaka” (hatta = hand, niddhunaka = shaking, a place of shaking movement) refers to a specific action: shaking the hand in a disrespectful or wayward manner according to the discipline. This is not a profound doctrinal discourse, but a detailed account of a particular violation and the way it was handled by the Sangha, the community of bhikkhus.
The Vinaya Piṭaka is arranged according to various issues that arose from bhikkhus being negligent or committing violations. Instead of punishing arbitrarily, the Buddha established clear rules and fair procedures for handling matters, in order to protect the purity and harmony of the monastic body.
Main Content
The specific content of this scripture records a case in which a bhikkhu performed an improper hand-shaking gesture — an action regarded as a sign of disrespect, misconduct, or breach of discipline. The scripture states clearly the context in which it arose, the parties involved, and the process of resolution according to the Vinaya rules.
The handling of matters in the Vinaya Piṭaka is never arbitrary. Vinaya procedures — from gathering evidence, to open discussion, to the application of discipline (sāmaṇera-kamma or bhikkhu-kamma) — are all carried out in the presence of the whole monastic body or recognized senior monks.
This scripture illustrates a core principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: every marginal or improper act is recorded, examined, and handled according to specific regulations. The aim is not punishment, but education, correction, and the maintenance of the purity of the monastic body.
Practical Meaning
Although this scripture refers to a specific event in history, its deeper meaning remains present in practice today.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.