Lzh Mg Bi Pm Sk 69Clasping Knees
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pallatthika
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Pallatthika Sutta (The Sutta on Clasping)
Background
The Pallatthika Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka within the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules and guidelines on disciplinary practice for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis. This sutta is found among the regulations concerning the handling of matters related to the body and conduct within the monastic community.
The context from which this sutta arises stems from specific situations within the Saṅgha during the time when the Buddha was still present in the world. When disputes or conflicts arose among members of the Saṅgha, certain physical expressions were sometimes considered inappropriate for those engaged in the religious life. The Pallatthika Sutta addresses the action of "firmly grasping the legs or body of another person" (pallatthika), a manner of expressing opposition or a failure to restrain one's emotions that, while not constituting actual violence, was nonetheless regarded as unseemly.
Main Content
According to the Pāli Canon tradition, this sutta pertains to the regulations concerning bodily restraint (kāya-saṁvara). Specifically, the action of firmly grasping or holding the body of another person, even though it causes no actual harm, is still regarded as conduct inconsistent with the mindfulness and discipline that a practitioner ought to maintain.
The Buddha gave instruction that bhikkhus must exercise complete control over the actions of the body. Even gestures that might seem minor, such as seizing or holding on to another person, reflect a state of mind not yet fully disciplined, not yet fully in accord with the Dhamma. This relates to a foundational (mūla) principle of the Buddha's teaching: patience, composure, and self-mastery in all circumstances.
The sutta stipulates that such actions may give rise to acts of confession (nadīkamma) or light disciplinary measures, depending on the context, the intention involved, and the response of the person affected. The purpose is not to punish but to educate, helping the monastic practitioner to develop clearer awareness of the necessity of governing every action of the body.
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